The One and Only Guide - Chapter 3
“I might freeze to death even before a monster even comes out…”
Muttering to herself, Jian put on the hood of her long coat and tore open a hot pack from her pocket. She needed to preserve her body temperature as much as possible until the rescue team arrived.
It was fortunate that she had taken Gate-related courses at the Awakening Association. If she were an ordinary person who knew nothing about Gates, she wouldn’t have been this composed.
“…By the way, what is this, a temple?”
Jian’s eyes took in the view before her, with dozens of ornate pillars and what seemed like an altar adorned with decorations.
Outside the cave, a snowstorm was raging with blizzard-like conditions. If she had fallen onto the snowy field rather than into this cave-temple, she would have frozen to death before regaining her senses. In many ways, luck was on her side.
Or was it bad luck instead? After all, she had gone from a zero matching rate to being swept away by a Gate manifestation. The more she thought about it, the more incredulous she became. Even if fate had a grudge, could it be this vindictive?
“Huh?”
While pondering, she felt something approaching from a distance outside the cave. Jian quickly turned her head to stare at the cave entrance.
Nothing was visible in her line of sight. Even if she opened her eyes wide, all she could see was the snow piling up to an adult’s waist.
Yet, she could definitely sense it. Something was approaching. It felt like a violent ripple jabbing at Jian’s skin. She abruptly stood up from where she had been crouching. If it was a monster coming, she had to run.
However, no matter how she looked around, there was no place to escape. There was nowhere to hide her body. All Jian could do was try to hide behind one of the giant pillars. The pillars were massive enough that she might be able to conceal herself.
But how long would she last like this? Jian’s trembling hand gripping the pillar’s surface made her wonder. She tried to stay composed, but it seemed she had reached her limit. The cold and fear were paralyzing her rationality.
‘Am I going to die like this? Here?’
Jian thought as she always carried a Gate emergency survival kit, but it would only be useful after escaping from the monster. She had no weapons. In front of a monster, these emergency kits were utterly useless.
‘If I knew this would happen, I should have spent all my remaining money!’
Even in this critical moment, all she could do was regret. As she thought that, something emerged from the snow piled up to her waist, making loud footsteps in the cave. Then came…
“Cough!”
It was the sound of a cough.
A person! It was definitely the sound of a person coughing.
Had an Awakened been sent into the Gate already? Jian hesitated and cautiously peered out from behind the pillar.
The first thing she saw was vibrant, silvery hair that seemed to have lost its color. Their attire was a bit unusual, but undoubtedly, it was a person! With relief and joy, Jian quickly emerged from behind the pillar and approached the man.
“Are you an Awakened?”
She asked the question, and the man collapsed.
Jian was startled and moved even closer. Had he been attacked by a monster outside the cave? Was that what happened?
To make matters worse, the man had vomited, leaving a red stain on the ground. Jian was shocked as she reached out to support the man.
But strangely… she felt a violent ripple from him. It was the same sensation that had surprised Jian.
‘Maybe…!’
In an instant, Jian unwittingly considered a possibility.
She remembered what the research director had said.
‘If an Esper with a matching rate appears, you will be able to feel the unique wavelength of Esper.’
It had been drilled into her ears to the point of memorization. Perhaps this man was an Esper whose resonance matched her own. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have sensed his energy so distinctly.
“E-Excuse me…”
Jian cautiously approached and shook the collapsed man. At that very moment, her hand was firmly gripped.
Simultaneously, she could discern two things: this man was an Esper, and he was currently in a state of rampage. If she had received Guide training or had any sense of being a Guide, she could not have missed this fact.
Jian instinctively began guiding him.
Just as she was about to infuse him with her energy, Jian was forcefully pulled into the man’s arms with a tremendous force. It was an unexpected action, but she wasn’t afraid. It was because he was an Esper.
The man spoke,
“Please… save me.”
Please. Don’t go. Save me.
Jian could feel his plea in his energy, his pleading sounding more like begging.
She felt it intuitively.
An Esper who could potentially resonate with her had finally appeared!
