The One and Only Guide - Chapter 22
Despite receiving decent treatment so far, what if she weren’t a Guide? What if she’d been a commoner? The more she thought about it, the more skeptical she became. Jian spoke up, trying not to provoke Axion.
“Let’s continue our conversation from last night. First, I want to know what it means to have no Guide.”
“…Just as it sounds.”
“Just as it sounds… Instead of vague and ambiguous words, tell me the facts. First of all, from the way you sliced through that monster the other day, I’m guessing you’re a Physical Enhancer. Is that correct?”
“That’s right. My main weapon is a sword, and… it’s true that my physical strength is stronger than ordinary people.”
“So, it’s Physical Enhancement. Are there other Espers with different abilities?”
“If you’re talking about ability users, there are mages.”
“Mages?”
“They manipulate fire or ice freely. Usually, they use magic formulas to use magic, but… ability users can use magic-like tricks without the help of spells.”
That meant Elemental Awakeners, right? Jian was familiar with this story up to this point.
“There are other Espers besides you. But why is there no Guide? If there are Espers, having Guides is common sense.”
“If there were Guides here, their existence would have been known sooner. There are no Guides like you here. Moreover, what you call ‘Espers’ in the first place… is only a few. As far as I know, you are the only Guide on this continent of Wisrode.”
The only guide. What dreadful words. Jian lightly shivered and brushed his bangs aside.
“Don’t be ridiculous, it’s possible that the Guide is out there somewhere on the continent and hasn’t been found yet. Since I know I’m a Guide, and since I know what Guiding is, there must have been a Guide here before, right?”
“I wish it were so. However, all the Guides who revealed themselves on the continent have appeared from other dimensions.”
“There were Guides like me? Where are they? Where can I meet them?”
“They’re all dead.”
“…What did you say?”
“The first appearance of a Guide was hundreds of years ago. She was a woman with black hair and black eyes like yours, and she suddenly appeared at the top of the northern ice mountain.”
“What happened to her? Did she return to where she originally lived?”
Ignoring Jian’s urgent question, Axion answered.
“I don’t know.”
There was no hint of hesitation in his words. However, his Wave was telling a completely different story.
“Stop lying!”
Axion was taken aback by Jian’s outburst. How did she know it was a lie? Should he tackle her?
Yes, he should catch her! If she found out that the first Guide to appear in the North had returned to her original world, she would want to go back there. And she would never appear again.
He tried his best to think of alternative solutions, there was no other way to conceal the truth. Just thinking about Jian disappearing made it hard to breathe. He knew he was not a skilled liar, and even if he lied, he would be exposed immediately, but there was no other choice.
“All I know is this. She lived in the North and died.”
Jian pushed down his anger with all his might as Axion did his best to deny everything. His shamelessness was enough to make her head explode.
But she couldn’t afford to lose her temper. If she did, she would be the one to lose if the conversation was interrupted.
“…You have no intention of telling me the truth, do you? Right? Fine. I won’t force you to speak.”
The Duke’s hardened complexion softened as he spoke. It was clear that he was relieved that I wasn’t going to ask any more questions. But I have my own way of finding out the truth. By reading his Waves.
“You don’t have to answer, just listen to my questions. Can you do that?”
“…I will listen.”
Jian smirked at the Duke’s response. It was exactly the answer she wanted.
“The Guide who first appeared in the North, did she really die there?”
After throwing the question, Jian swallowed a sip of tea. It was to buy time to read his Wave.
“…..”
Based on the fluctuations in the Wave, it was clear that the Guide who first appeared in the North did not die there. Jian asked the next question.
“…..”
Judging from the fluctuations of the waves, the guide who appeared in the north was definitely lying about dying in the north.
“I think the story might have been miscommunicated. That Guide might not have died in the North but rather returned to her world. Isn’t that possible?”
The Duke remained silent, as if adhering only to the act of listening, his gaze slightly lowered toward the floor.
But avoiding eye contact was futile.
Like objects reflected in a mirror, the Duke’s Wave was as clear as a mirror. It was evident that the Guide to appear in the North had discovered a way to return to Earth. And this man knew that the original guide had returned to her own world!
