25

“Seems like there’s no choice,” Delroz said with a heavy sigh.

“Just cooperate for a while. I’m not planning on making this guiding arrangement permanent.”

“Are you suggesting a temporary guide contract?”

“Yes. I’ll rely on you only until I find the guide I’m looking for.”

The guide he’s searching for… Delroz was still trying to find the guide who had stopped his rampage. It was the last thread of hope he had left.

Banteon discreetly sighed in relief. It seemed that Delroz hadn’t yet figured out his true identity. Despite knowing that Banteon was capable of guiding him, Delroz hadn’t made the connection between Banteon and the guide from that night.

As Banteon remained silent, his face stiff, Delroz crossed his arms and looked down at him, trying to interpret his behavior.

“Don’t get any ideas. I’m not interested in making a permanent contract with a man.”

Who was he to talk? Banteon swallowed his irritation and looked at Delroz.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

When Banteon agreed to the temporary guide offer without protest, Delroz looked at him with a hint of surprise.

“Most people try to secure a permanent guiding arrangement with me. But you’re different.”

“I don’t need that. Besides, you’re not exactly thrilled to have me around, are you?”

“Hmm…”

It must have seemed suspicious to Delroz that Banteon was rejecting something everyone else desired. Delroz, eyeing him with dissatisfaction, asked,

“I suppose it’s because you’re from a distinguished family and don’t feel the need for an SS-rank?”

You’ve got that right.

Banteon didn’t feel it was worth responding to that question, so he just stared off into the distance. Delroz, seemingly indifferent to being ignored, didn’t press the matter. After all, his comment was intended to provoke Banteon, not to elicit a response.

“This is an amusing place. Some want it like it’s gold, and others treat it as a nuisance, worse than a stone.”

Delroz’s voice dripped with sarcasm. His words revealed a strange hostility toward both the Center and the nobility. While it made sense for Delroz to harbor resentment against the Center, given what he had experienced, Banteon was curious about the reason for his animosity toward the nobility as a whole.

“If it’s that uncomfortable here, why don’t you leave?”

According to the kingdom’s laws, Espers and guides must belong to the Center. But if an SS-rank decided to leave because he was dissatisfied, who could stop him? Even if Delroz wanted to establish a new kingdom, there would be no one to prevent him.

“I plan to. As soon as I find my guide.”

“….”

“Don’t worry. It’s not you.”

Absolutely. Banteon silently vowed once more that he would never let Delroz discover that he was the guide who saved him that night. Banteon had no intention of abandoning the comfort and safety of civilized society.

Of course, if Delroz ever found out that Banteon was that guide, he’d likely be more inclined to accuse him of being in league with those who caused his rampage, rather than take him along.

“If you have any conditions for the temporary guide contract, let me know in advance.”

“Just refrain from any unnecessary interactions outside of our professional duties. I doubt either of us wants more than that.”

“Sounds good. Anything else?” Delroz asked.

Banteon shook his head instead of answering. He didn’t particularly want anything from Delroz. He just wanted to live with as little interaction with him as possible.

“And you?”

Out of courtesy, Banteon asked for Delroz’s opinion, and Delroz, who had been observing him thoughtfully, spoke.

“From now on, call me Delroz.”

“Pardon?”

“How long are you going to keep calling me ‘that guy’? Now that you’ve agreed to be my guide, you should call me by my name.”

Banteon pressed his lips together, remaining silent. Delroz had accurately pointed out that he had been intentionally avoiding using his name.

Indeed, in a situation where he had agreed to be Delroz’s guide, calling him ‘that guy’ was rude. Although he wasn’t thrilled about being called out by someone who didn’t seem to know the meaning of manners, he couldn’t lower himself to the same level just because he was annoyed.

Reluctantly, Banteon opened his mouth.

“Understood. Delroz.”

“You can drop the formalities, too.”

“I’ll pass.”

They weren’t about to become close enough to be on informal terms, and he didn’t want to risk letting slip something he might regret if he spoke too casually.

“Then, if we’re done talking, it’s time to sleep. The sun is setting.”

The light that had faintly filtered through the cracks in the cave had grown even dimmer. It was now so dark that it was hard to distinguish between the puddles and the ground. Delroz, seemingly unfazed by the darkness, confidently walked to one side and spread out his coat. Then, he approached Banteon.

“Take my hand.”

Banteon, who was still struggling with his ankle, reluctantly took the offered hand. Even though he didn’t want to rely on Delroz’s help, he had no choice in his current condition.

As Banteon leaned on him, Delroz effortlessly lifted him halfway off the ground, helping him move. Though Banteon was walking on his own, it felt like Delroz was carrying all his weight.

The spot Delroz chose was one of the few dry, solid patches of ground among the puddles. Following Delroz’s lead, Banteon sat on his coat. It seemed they would have to spend the night here.

Since they had given up on trying to climb higher, they would move toward the light the next day once the sun rose.

As Banteon tried to sleep, hoping his ankle would feel better by morning, he suddenly felt something unfamiliar behind him.

“What is it?”

“It gets cold in places like this at night.”

Without hesitation, Delroz’s firm arm wrapped around Banteon’s back. Banteon let out a small, incredulous laugh at the gesture, which felt almost like a mother bird sheltering her chick. It seemed Delroz truly thought of Banteon as a fragile paper doll that would fall apart if it got wet.

“I thought you didn’t like men.”

“When you live as a mercenary, this kind of contact becomes normal. Don’t get the wrong idea.”

Get the wrong idea? Banteon wanted to protest immediately. He wasn’t particularly concerned with gender when it came to close contact, but his preferences leaned toward small, cute things. Delroz, who was large and intimidating, wasn’t exactly to his taste.

“It’s fine.”

“I’m not fine.”

“It’s reall—”

“Don’t catch a cold and make things more complicated. Unlike you, I’m not doing this because I enjoy sleeping close to men.”

Banteon pressed his lips into a thin line. It would be foolish to risk catching a cold when his ankle was already injured. Besides, he was already dependent on Delroz, so he didn’t want to cause more trouble.

Even when Banteon tried to shift to create some space between them, Delroz didn’t budge. It didn’t seem like Delroz was exerting any effort, yet he remained immovable, like a warm stone.

“Stop fidgeting. You’re not a kitten.”

“….”

Pudding, kitten—Delroz’s perception of Banteon was baffling. It made Banteon seriously consider whether Delroz needed his corneas checked.

If Delroz was offering himself up as a cushion, Banteon might as well make use of it. Though he wasn’t thrilled about being held by a man of Delroz’s size, it was still better than leaning against the cold, hard cave wall.

Banteon decided he would stay like this for a little while, then move away once Delroz fell asleep.

With that plan in mind, Banteon deliberately leaned more of his weight on Delroz. Despite the added burden, Delroz’s posture didn’t change.

In the dark, with only the sound of trickling water and their quiet breathing, everything seemed louder.

For some reason, Banteon felt it would be difficult to fall asleep tonight.

---

A considerable amount of time had passed since Banteon closed his eyes. Contrary to his expectations of a restless night, he had fallen into a deep sleep, his breathing steady and calm. Watching him intently was a pair of eyes that refused to look away.

In the pitch-black cave, where even his own hands were invisible, Delroz’s golden eyes glimmered faintly.

Carefully, so as not to disturb Banteon, Delroz moved his body, taking great care to keep from waking the fragile figure in his arms. Slowly, after much hesitation, he lifted one arm. Even this small movement caused Banteon to furrow his long eyelashes and shift slightly.

Delroz’s body could go days without sleep, without feeling the slightest fatigue. If he were alone, he would have already climbed the cave walls to escape. But this body was different.

The red mark on Banteon’s cheek was still visible.

It was annoying that such a small thing—a piece of stone no bigger than a fingernail—could cause injury and bleeding. A surge of irritation rose within him.

Delroz was used to non-Esper bodies. In his mercenary group, aside from Paton, all of them were non-Espers, and he had seen more than enough ordinary men. The men he knew were grimy, with yellow teeth flashing as they laughed, not caring even if they were covered in wounds and blood.

They were the type of men who wouldn’t care if they were hurt or bleeding. So why was this one different?

Was it because he was a guide?

Delroz hesitated for a moment, then moved his arm closer to Banteon’s face. He hesitated briefly but then gently touched Banteon’s cheek. The texture of his skin against Delroz’s fingerprints was unbelievably soft. Despite the odd intimacy of the gesture, Delroz didn’t feel any discomfort.

It must be because he’s a guide.

Otherwise, there was no reason for him to be so confused.

The headache that had plagued him had completely vanished. The tinnitus that had been ringing in his ears for so long was also gone.

Despite feeling more at peace than ever, the primal instincts that controlled his actions didn’t make him happy.

Delroz stared intently at Banteon’s face. His golden eyes gleamed in the darkness of the cave, reflecting light like a predator in the night. That gaze remained fixed on Banteon until the moon set.

---

When Banteon opened his eyes, his body was being gently rocked. The comfortable motion made him open his eyes to see Delroz’s sharp jawline. Why was this in front of him?

After blinking a few times, reality finally dawned on him. Delroz was carrying Banteon in his arms as he walked.