15

Banteon watched the scene from a distance, feeling despondent as people flocked around Delroz. His tall figure, with his black hair, stood out even among the crowd.

What was the center thinking, sending an Esper who hadn’t even completed basic training to the field? And without a guide. It meant Delroz still hadn’t found a temporary matching guide. No matter how urgent the situation, sending someone so risky here was unfathomable.

Banteon sighed deeply, staring at the ground. Amid the crowd cheering the arrival of an SS-rank, he alone felt the weight of despair.

“An SS-rank! I’ve never seen one before!”

“This is crazy. I’m so glad I applied for the depletion team.”

People’s voices echoed with excitement, as they craned their necks to get a better look. Banteon hung his head, his sigh mixing with the ground.

Nothing was going right. He had come here to avoid trouble, only for it to follow him. And now, he faced greater risk than he did at the center.

This was worse than his worst-case scenario. At the center, he rarely encountered Delroz because they lived in different wings. But here, most activities took place in a single building, increasing the likelihood of running into him.

Banteon checked his terminal and adjusted his schedule. There was no changing what had already happened, so he needed a quick solution.

‘Team 2 is likely to be in the vanguard. Team 4, which just returned, should be safer.’

He strategized to avoid Delroz. Team 4, with many injured members requiring guidance, was often avoided by other guides but was perfect for Banteon. He planned to start working early and stay late for the time being.

Better to be physically exhausted temporarily than to jeopardize his entire life.

He requested to be assigned to Team 4 for the remaining days on the calendar and confirmed the changes. Watching the slowly moving crowd, he noted how they followed Delroz like a school of fish with every step he took.

Despite the crowd, Delroz’s blue-black hair stood out.

At least he’s easy to spot and avoid, Banteon thought, turning away.

No matter where he goes, Delroz will attract attention. By avoiding crowded places and being careful, Banteon hoped to avoid overlapping with him.

Cheers for Delroz echoed from behind, as if celebrating a victory over the monsters. Feeling like he was attending a funeral alone, Banteon glanced at the innocent sky and shook his head. Well, even a funeral can be a celebration in a way.

Feeling like he was walking to his grave, Banteon made his way to his tent.

Lost in thought, Banteon didn’t notice a pair of eyes intently watching his retreating figure amidst the crowd celebrating the new depletion team.

---

“I didn’t expect you to volunteer for this place.”

“If I had known you were here, I wouldn’t have.”

“Always so cold.”

In the chaos, Banteon had overlooked the fact that Team 4 was made up of additional Espers, with Teeroth as the team leader.

Had he remembered Teeroth had recently been to the abandoned mine, he would have figured it out. But his thoughts had been preoccupied with Delroz.

“Our team just got back, so our work is the hardest. And you volunteered?”

“Quiet.”

“Are you really fulfilling your noble duty?”

Banteon gave Teeroth a sideways glance, tired of his teasing. Teeroth, with his usual carefree attitude, seemed amused.

“Fine. But don’t overdo it. You’re not here to prove anything.”

“I know.”

Teeroth’s expression softened slightly. Banteon knew he was only half-joking. Despite his easygoing nature, Teeroth genuinely cared about Banteon’s well-being.

“Just remember, you don’t have to do this alone. We’re a team.”

Banteon nodded, appreciating the concern hidden in Teeroth’s words. Despite the challenges ahead, he felt a little more at ease knowing he had an ally he could rely on.

Banteon slapped Teeroth’s back hard enough to make a sound, but only Banteon’s palm felt the sting.

“I’m serious. Rumors say you voluntarily took on extra duties too.”

“I did.”

“The stories are wild. People are calling you a model noble and the guide’s guide. I almost thought I misheard.”

This was why Banteon didn’t want to be assigned to the same team as Teeroth. Normally carefree, Teeroth had a certain social standing but became a chatterbox around Banteon. It had been that way since they were kids.

The curious glances from others were starting to get on Banteon’s nerves. Pushing Teeroth away to stop him from prattling didn’t work; Teeroth laughed and continued to tease him, all while being an overgrown presence by his side.

“Get lost. You can’t even receive guiding.”

Guiding among relatives was strictly prohibited. In the early days of the kingdom, inbreeding had been encouraged to increase the chances of producing Espers. However, after a few generations, severe side effects emerged.

Genetic diseases and illnesses, untreatable by medicine, became a constant shadow over the nobility.

With the average life expectancy dropping below fifty and the quality of Espers deteriorating, the royal family passed a law prohibiting marriages within four degrees of kinship. Along with it, guiding, which could easily lead to sexual relationships, was also banned.

“It’s a pity. I heard your guiding is top-notch, but I’ll never get the chance because we’re relatives.”

“If we weren’t relatives, we wouldn’t be talking now.”

“Cold. So cold.”

Ignoring Teeroth’s whining, Banteon entered the guiding room to start his work, hastily organizing his belongings.

“Go away. You’re in the way.”

Teeroth, who had been moving step by step with each item Banteon put away, smiled mischievously.

“Do you even need a guiding room? According to legend, Banteon can precisely bless each Esper in a room full of people…”

“Seriously…”

Following him in here just to tease him, Banteon threw a blanket at Teeroth’s face. The man, who wouldn’t feel pain even if hit by a rock, caught the blanket with a mock-hurt expression.

“Too much. I’m just worried about you.”

“If you’re going to pretend to cry, at least put some eye drops in.”

“That’s gross.”

Banteon felt like hitting him for real, but it wouldn’t help. He leaned back in a cushioned chair, trying to cool his temper.

Normally, Banteon enjoyed teasing Teeroth, but lately, things had changed. He knew Teeroth wouldn’t let go of the strange excuses he had been using. Even Banteon knew his actions were out of character.

“But did you really do it? Guiding on the spot?”

“Not on the street, but in the waiting room.”

“Same thing.”

Teeroth’s reaction was understandable. The rumors about Banteon in the depletion team were wildly exaggerated. Even Banteon found it hard to keep up with the overblown stories.

“It’s dangerous to do things you don’t usually do.”

“I told you before, don’t worry.”

“Really?”

“…”

“Bante, are you really okay?”

The playful tone was gone, replaced by genuine concern. Teeroth, having known Banteon for a long time, wasn’t someone who would easily accept a simple reassurance.

Avoiding Teeroth’s steady gaze, Banteon finally relented.

“I’ll tell you later.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

“I’ll be really mad if you lie.”

“Do as you wish.”

“Well, I’ll let it slide this time.”

Only then did Teeroth’s expression soften. Like a parent finishing their lecture, he slowly left the guiding room, reminding Banteon not to overwork himself.

‘Finally, some peace and quiet.’

With the noisy Teeroth gone, the usual calm returned. It wasn’t all bad; chatting comfortably with an old friend had eased his tension from the battlefield.

Annoying but helpful at times.

Banteon opened his work log and terminal. He had eight guiding sessions scheduled for the day—a manageable number.

He marked his availability for additional sessions. While he wasn’t thrilled about more work, staying in the guiding room minimized his chances of running into Delroz. This was a space where Banteon had control over who he interacted with.

The reality of having to avoid Delroz this much made him smile bitterly. He quickly marked the first name on the list with a black pen.

---

By the time Banteon finished all his guiding sessions, the evening sun had set. Darkness fell faster in the mountains than in the plains. Walking along the path, he inhaled the rich scent of the trees. Instead of heading straight to his quarters, Banteon took his time, surveying his surroundings.

It seemed like more people had left early today; the headquarters, usually lit up brightly, had several dark windows. Instead, the lights at the residential area were shining brightly.

As he walked, he noticed how the once clear air was now mixed with the smell of smoke and dust. The roar of large monsters had become his new morning alarm. He had joined the depletion team to escape, but the reality was harsher than he had imagined.

It was more intense and bloody than he expected.

He couldn’t help but wonder about the question Teeroth had asked him: why did he volunteer for the depletion team?

Banteon had lived a life far removed from notions of justice. He believed his duty was simply to exist and produce heirs. Continuing his bloodline, which had a high probability of producing Espers, was his raison d’être. That seemed enough.

His terminal buzzed with an end-of-shift notification. He paused, about to log his additional work hours. Supporting another team doubled the recorded work and increased leave time upon returning to the center.

Despite knowing this, he didn’t feel like documenting it.

After a moment of hesitation, Banteon closed the screen. Only his regular work schedule was logged in his terminal.

Reinforcements needed to arrive soon, as the guide he had just met had hoped.

Cracking his stiff neck, he felt a dull ache. His eyes, unusually dry and sore, hinted at the toll his exertion was taking. Frowning at the unfamiliar sensation, he headed back to his tent.

The battlefield was a place where even Banteon, who had always been skeptical of powerful Espers, found himself hoping for the arrival of an S-rank.

Someone had to come and support this situation. With that thought, he made his way to his cozy quarters.