The One and Only Guide - Chapter 19
Even with the comfort of an escort and maidservant, the eleven days was very long. It was enough time to get used to the strange ducal castle and learn the names of the empire and the continents.
Jian, who had stayed awake the night before, was the first to realize that Axion was returning to the castle. The Duke’s return doesn’t need to be announced by a servant, nor does it need to be announced by the castle. She could smell it from a mile away, the distinctive Waves of the Espers getting closer.
Jian burst through the door, and Harold, standing guard, followed behind her, puzzled.
“Where are you going all of a sudden?”
“The Duke is back.”
The Duke had returned? Neither Pavalma* nor carrier pigeons had come from outside the castle. But Jian sounded confident. Harold was perplexed, interrupting Jian.
(T/N: Communication system from Joseon Dynasty)
“The Duke can’t have returned already. He should be gone for at least another week. There was no word that he would return tonight.”
Even if there were some unforeseen reason, it was now the middle of the night during a blizzard. It was unlikely that the Duke, exhausted from traveling south with a horde of monsters, would decide to return unexpectedly.
Harold’s description of the Northern Deputy Knight was not without merit. But the explanation was of no use to Jian, who could feel the ripples of the Espers on her skin.
“It’s coming, you can bet on it.”
“Hah. No one returns on a blizzard night like this.”
“Alright, lead the way to the main entrance of the ducal palace. As long as I don’t leave this manor, it doesn’t matter.”
Harold followed Jian with a sigh. How could this be in the middle of the night, when the day was going so well?
But true to Jian’s words, the Duke returned that night.
It had been less than an hour since Jian had spoken.
While Harold stood in silent amazement, Jian stood in the way of Axion, clad in bloodstained armor. The precarious Wave, which was so precarious as to overshadow the Guiding process 11 days ago, stung her skin with him right in front of her.
Emergency Guiding should have been the immediate concern to address, but there was something even more important.
The truth that the Duke had repeatedly confirmed and denied during his absence. It needed verification.
“You’re here at last. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“…Me?”
“I have something to ask.”
“Go on.”
“Did I… travel between dimensions?”
As she spoke, even she found it absurd. Dimensional travel? Just like the time when people around the world denied the Gate incident, Jian hoped her hypothesis would be denied too. A mistake, a misunderstanding. She wanted to believe it was just a mistake.
But Axion’s response perfectly crushed Jian’s expectations.
“…Yes.”
Jian’s lips trembled at Axion’s words. Hearing that, she could no longer pretend to be nonchalant.
Desperation flashed in Jian’s eyes
“Is there a way to go back?”
There was. But Axion didn’t want to reveal it. Unable to lie, Axion chose silence.
However, Axion overlooked something. Jian had a lie detector, limited to detecting lies within his Wave. Jian’s questioning led to an undeniable truth.
“There is a way, right? Tell me.”
Axion’s face darkened at Jian’s interrogation.
“…Do you want to go back?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m not one of the people here.”
Although she had found an Esper with a match rate of 98%, it was still disappointing. But he was really someone from another world.
There was no Wi-Fi here, no association protecting the Guides. The culture seemed far behind, and the bizarre concept of social status was pervasive. Although the Esper in front of her was tempting, it wasn’t enough reason to stay in this world.
One thing for certain was that there were more reasons to go back than to stay.
With a darker gaze, Axion spoke.
“Can’t you stay? I’ll treat you well without any shortcomings. I… need you.”
“Find another Fuide.”
“No.”
“What did you say?”
“…I won’t send you back.”
Axion’s decisive words sent a shiver down her spine. He pretended to be harmless, but he was an Esper. Moreover, he was the owner of the Duchy. If he used force, Jian, who was closer to an ordinary person, couldn’t resist.
Although she had never heard of an Esper assaulting a Guide, Axion, with a head larger than Jian’s, sounded threatening enough.
As the chilling sense of crisis approached, Jian struggled to keep her composure. Not sending her back? Did that mean she had to continue being confined in this castle?
“Why? You can find another Guide!”
“I can’t. As far as I know… you are the only Guide.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! If there’s an Esper, there should naturally be a Guide…”
Jian stopped speaking abruptly. The look in Axion’s eyes, it was unmistakable.
A bad joke.
She hoped it was a lie, but no matter how much she searched, there was no trace of deception. Meeting the Duke’s gaze without avoiding it, Jian asked in disbelief.
“No way. Is it really true… there are no Guides here?”
“Yes.”
