23

The old mine was narrow and damp. Moving through it in a single file, with no room to rest or sit as they marched, was an exhausting ordeal.

The air was thin, and they had to rely on air-purifying stones intermittently to keep moving. While Banteon was used to using such stones freely, they were precious to others, so the supply was limited. Resisting the urge to use his own, Banteon had to adjust to the slower pace of the group, a challenge that grated on his nerves.

Hygiene was another issue. The most they could manage was washing their faces and brushing their teeth with the little water they had brought.

Despite the harsh conditions, the mine expedition was going smoothly. There were a few unexpected appearances of bizarre monsters, but none that were too difficult to handle.

“There’s a gremlin nest up ahead!”

“Team 2, keep an eye on the ceiling. Maintain speed.”

“Delroz, could you take care of this?”

“Tsk… Stay here, Paton.”

“Yes, yes, don’t worry.”

Delroz played a critical role in speeding up the march, helping his team members who struggled with the monsters. With his overwhelming power, he bolstered the forces wherever they were needed, ensuring steady progress.

Banteon, sitting on the ground during a brief pause, observed the subjugation team. Everyone looked tired, but there were no injuries or sickness. Contrary to his initial thoughts that Delroz would act independently and disregard others, he was integrating well with the team.

He remembered hearing that Delroz had once led a mercenary group. It made sense—he seemed well-practiced at looking out for those around him. Despite his gruff manner and rough speech, he quickly assessed and addressed any issues, earning the respect of those under his command.

“Are you holding up okay?”

“I’m fine.”

The question came from Paton, one of Delroz’s former mercenary subordinates. True to his word about keeping Banteon safe, Delroz assigned Paton to stay by Banteon’s side whenever he had to step away.

Paton was a D-rank Esper. Though the lowest rank in the center, his specialized ability was a shield, capable of providing temporary protection to those around him.

“Our captain can be a bit eccentric, can’t he?”

“It’s not a problem.”

“But he must like you, Banteon. He doesn’t usually keep people close.”

“Is that so?”

Banteon responded mechanically, causing Paton to glance briefly at his hair.

“Maybe he’s developed a thing for silver hair…”

The comment was quiet, but Banteon heard it clearly.

“He seems to like silver hair.”

“Oh, no. He never had any particular preferences before. And, well, you don’t have to worry—our captain is a bit old-fashioned and really dislikes men.”

“I’ve heard that.”

“To the point where he insists on being guided by a woman only…”

Paton shuddered slightly as he recalled the past, then cautiously asked.

“I hope this isn’t too forward, but… can you guide our captain, Banteon?”

“It’s difficult for me as well.”

“Ah, I thought so…”

Paton’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. He knew better than anyone how unstable Delroz had been. The captain, who had always been with them, now had a ticking clock over his head, and it was Paton who felt the weight of that the most.

When Banteon was assigned as Delroz’s temporary Guide, Paton had held out a sliver of hope. But after observing them for several days, that hope had slowly faded. Delroz avoided physical contact with Banteon, just as he did with any other male Guide. Despite being in close proximity, he made an effort not to touch Banteon and didn’t ask for any guiding. He simply ensured Banteon’s safety, acting more like a bodyguard than a partner.

Paton was disappointed, but Banteon felt something much more unsettling.

Delroz’s aura, which Banteon could see, was eerily calm. It flowed smoothly, neither excessive nor lacking, like a perfectly still surface of water.

Throughout the time they had spent together, Banteon hadn’t seen Delroz engage with any other Guides. Banteon was the only one who stayed near him for 24 hours a day.

Just a few days of close proximity had somehow stabilized Delroz’s aura.

At this point, it was clear. Banteon didn’t even need direct contact to know—whatever had happened during that night of the berserk episode, Banteon was now the only one capable of guiding Delroz.

Having figured out the situation, Banteon knew he needed to regroup with Teeroth and discuss what to do next. Should he stay with Delroz and continue guiding him, or ignore it all and let fate take its course?

The thought of all the potential victims of Delroz’s berserk state was the only thing making Banteon hesitate; otherwise, he would have chosen the latter option without a second thought.

Delroz, seemingly unaware of Banteon’s internal struggle, was faithfully keeping his promise. He was watching over Banteon throughout the journey, making sure no harm came to him. Even without speaking much, his attention was constantly on Banteon.

Not a single scratch had marred Banteon’s uniform during their trek through the narrow tunnels.

‘What is he thinking?’

Banteon wondered. Delroz likely knew his own body better than anyone. If his condition had improved without direct guiding, he must have sensed it on some level. But was he merely pretending not to notice because he disliked having a male Guide? It seemed unlikely, given that this was a matter of life and death.

Delroz had been exiled to this remote mine because he lacked a Guide capable of stabilizing him. If he found one, he wouldn’t need to waste away in this place. He could reclaim his rightful position at the heart of the kingdom, enjoying the future promised to him. Yet, despite knowing all this, Delroz had done nothing to change his situation.

“It’s over.”

Paton said, signaling the end of the fight as Delroz approached from a distance. Unlike Banteon, who was clean and unscathed, Delroz was covered in the dark, sticky blood of the monsters. Even so, his strong neck and piercing eyes drew attention, commanding respect with every step.

As he walked, the heads of those around him turned to follow. Banteon had to admit that Delroz was different from any Esper he had encountered before, even his S-rank brother. It wasn’t just that Delroz was a powerful Esper—he seemed like a different breed altogether.

“You’re not hurt, are you?”

Delroz asked as he approached.

“Not a scratch.”

“Good.”

Delroz relaxed and sat down beside Banteon, closing his eyes and breathing deeply. His posture resembled that of an Esper receiving guiding, calm and composed as if trying to draw more from Banteon’s presence.

Maybe it would be better to just ask him directly. There was no point in hiding the fact that Banteon could guide him if Delroz already knew. As long as he kept the details of that berserk night a secret, there was no harm in revealing his ability to guide Delroz.

“By any chance…” Banteon began, but he was cut off as Delroz suddenly stood up, throwing his jacket over Banteon. The jacket, soaked in monster blood, was the least of Banteon’s concerns as the entire mine shook violently.

“Everyone down! Activate your shields!” Sotenlu’s voice rang out through the chaos. Each person quickly pulled out their emergency shield stones, which had been issued in case of such an event.

With trembling hands, Banteon retrieved the stone he had stored in his chest pocket and activated it. A translucent barrier enveloped him, providing a small bubble of protection. As the tremors grew stronger, he could hear the clatter of stones falling onto the shield.

This was the first time they had encountered such a severe tremor since entering the mine. How long would the shield hold? Banteon’s mouth went dry with fear as he caught sight of Delroz, standing firm without a shield, scanning the surroundings as if assessing the danger.

Delroz might be able to survive even if the entire mine collapsed, but his expression was as hard as stone.

“Damn it.”

Delroz muttered under his breath. He bit his lip slightly and crouched down next to Banteon.

“What… what’s happening?”

Banteon asked, his voice shaking.

“We must have hit something—a core.”

Delroz replied, his voice low.

A core? Banteon had never heard of such a thing. It hadn’t been mentioned during the briefing; they had been told only that the mine was an abnormal monster summoning site, possibly a new dungeon in the making. The concept of a “core” within the dungeon was entirely new to him.

While Banteon processed this information, the tremors intensified. The stones falling on the shield bounced off with increasing force, and the shield itself began to fade, becoming more transparent.

Before the shield could fail completely, Banteon reached for a second shield stone he had hidden, moving carefully to retrieve it. His gloved hand fumbled with the slick stone, making it difficult to grasp. He bit down on his glove to remove it and tried again, only for the ground beneath him to shake violently.

But Delroz moved faster. As Banteon struggled with the shield stone, Delroz slipped an arm under his shoulder and lifted him effortlessly, cradling him protectively.

In that moment, Banteon was overwhelmed with conflicting emotions. He had expected Delroz to treat him with the same aloofness he had shown other male Guides, yet here he was, shielding him with an intensity that seemed almost personal.

“Hold on.”

Delroz commanded, his voice steady despite the chaos around them.

Banteon barely had time to register what was happening before Delroz was on the move, carrying him as if he weighed nothing, navigating the shaking tunnel with determined precision.