#6

-…ugh…….

A very faint, thin sound. It was a delicate noise that could be the sound of rustling foliage or the cry of an animal.

As he continued to walk, the sound gradually grew closer. Banteon gripped the self-defense weapon tucked in his chest.

Since he had already entered the outskirts of the center, it was highly likely that any person he encountered would be someone from the center. However, he had to be prepared for other possibilities.

The center was a facility that concentrated all the kingdom’s power. There had been no intruders so far. However, this meant that apart from the lodgings where the guides stayed, security was almost non-existent. If one were to take advantage of this, it would be an excellent facility for an intruder to enter.

“…Ugh……”

The sound grew louder. It was now clearly identifiable as a human voice. Banteon briefly wondered if it was a clandestine meeting but quickly dismissed the thought.

No matter how energetic someone might be, it didn’t make sense to engage in such an act in damp, misty bushes when there were many indoor spaces available in the center. There was no reason to choose such a wet and uncomfortable spot.

“Who… is it?”

As he got closer, the other person seemed to notice Banteon and asked in a rough, scraping voice. Fortunately, it seemed they weren’t in a state to cause harm to Banteon.

Banteon put the weapon back into his chest and approached the source of the sound. As he got close enough to see, he spotted a large man lying in the grass.

At a glance, the man was in bad shape. The turbulent energy and unstable aura surrounding him seemed to press down on Banteon. It was violent enough to be felt without moving a finger.

Considering how unlucky the day had been, did it really have to get this complicated?

Banteon rarely cursed inwardly as he stood still before the sprawled man. The man’s appearance, which had been obscured by the surrounding energy, was now clearly visible. Disheveled hair and comfortable pajamas.

It was unclear how he ended up in the outskirts of the center in his pajamas, but it didn’t seem like a voluntary action.

After asking who Banteon was, the man seemed to lose consciousness, lying still even as Banteon approached. Even under the dim moonlight, the man’s identity was unmistakable.

“Delroz.”

The main cause of 80% of Banteon’s recent headaches.

The man before him looked as handsome as the rumors suggested. Even while lying down, his broad shoulders, chiseled jaw, and high nose bridge matched the descriptions he had heard.

Expecting a rough and unkempt appearance for a mercenary leader, the man before him could easily be mistaken for someone of noble blood. He looked like a sharply sculpted black statue.

Having recently struggled after touching an esper without preparation, Banteon used a nearby stick to press on Delroz’ head. Despite the pressure, there was no sign of waking.

What should he do?

He felt like leaving him there to freeze or wither to death. However, the issue was not that simple, so Banteon folded his arms and watched Delroz.

The turbulent energy was moving so fiercely that it could soon lead to a rampage. Delroz would be overwhelmed by his own energy and, in turn, drag the nearby center into chaos.

From a distance, the center’s lights were still visible. The center employed thousands of staff members besides esper guides. The number of people on duty was in the tens of thousands.

Banteon knew well what an S-class rampage could lead to. Ignoring this was not an option. Thinking how troublesome this was, Banteon scratched his head.

“Really, such a nuisance.”

As expected, his mere existence was a nuisance. Despite his grumbling, Banteon sat down beside Delroz. The damp grass soaked his knees, and he frowned at the sensation of moisture against his skin but settled in nonetheless.

Just a little. Just a little.

He had no intention of wasting his energy wishing for this guy’s well-being. Even if he had energy to spare, he didn’t want to use it on him. So, he intended to at least prevent the rampage.

As soon as he brought his hand close, Delroz’ energy clung to Banteon’s arm as if wrapping around it. It surged violently, like a desert racing towards an oasis, causing Banteon’s mouth to set in a firm line.

This much without even making contact.

A bitter sound escaped through his tightly clenched teeth. Holding onto his wavering consciousness, he slowly calmed the energy. Guiding an unconscious person was a dangerous task. Especially one of such a high rank, he could easily be consumed in an instant.

Banteon, maintaining a slight distance of about a finger’s width, took a deep breath and began to steady the energy.

General guiding is divided into three stages: epidermal contact, mucosal contact, and, as a last resort, sexual intercourse. Banteon wanted to avoid all three methods.

Though it wasn’t a conventional method, there was one alternative left. A method only Banteon, who could see the esper’s energy, could use.

Espers can calm down just by being in the same place as a guide. The efficiency varies with the matching rate, but it had a significant effect. By guiding the esper’s energy using this method, Banteon could achieve a similar effect to guiding without touching.

Fortunately, the matching rate between Banteon and Delroz didn’t seem bad, as Delroz’s energy slowly calmed even without contact.

With this level of effect, direct contact might stabilize him quickly, but Banteon still had no intention of touching him.

Contacting a rampaging esper was suicidal. Even without considering that, if Delroz, who had beaten men senseless just for approaching him, woke up to find Banteon there, his reaction was unpredictable. Saving this dying man could end up costing Banteon his life.

Just until he regains consciousness. Banteon decided to guide until Delroz’s turbulent energy stopped rampaging. If someone found him in the morning, they could take him to the center. If he regained consciousness before then, he could return on his own. Banteon didn’t feel responsible for more than that.

The energy, which had been raging as if it would overturn the sky, gradually turned into rough waves and then flowed like a tranquil lake.

Banteon straightened up after confirming Delroz’s fingers twitching slightly, a sign that he was no longer at risk of rampaging. His body felt stiff from being bent over for so long, and a slight dizziness washed over him. Even without contact, calming such powerful energy was no easy task.

As Banteon staggered to his feet, Delroz gripped his wrist tightly.

“Ugh.”

The energy that had been slowly flowing out of Banteon was suddenly sucked in, swirling violently like water draining from an open bathtub. The reservoir of Banteon’s energy emptied in an instant.

His vision blurred, and a dizzy spell made his brain feel like it was melting. The world spun, and the sky and ground mixed.

Banteon managed to grasp a hard, smooth object in his chest pocket. It was a small self-defense device he carried for emergencies, a mini taser that delivered a strong electric shock to incapacitate an opponent.

‘Will this work on an SS-class?’

Without hesitation, Banteon activated the taser and pressed it against Delroz’s nape.

-Zzzzt.

With the sound of burning flesh, Delroz’s body convulsed slightly, and the grip on Banteon’s wrist loosened. Banteon quickly retrieved the taser and got up.

“Ugh…”

He heard Delroz’s faint groan behind him. Banteon crawled around, gathering his clothes and belongings.

“You… guide…”

Delroz’s voice became clearer.

Damn persistent guy. The taser was at maximum output, but it only worked for a few seconds.

Banteon covered his face with his cumbersome long hair. Even if Delroz regained some consciousness, it would take time for him to move. Banteon had to escape in the meantime.

Moving was equally difficult for Banteon.

Though he knew he needed to get away quickly, his body, weakened by the energy drain, wouldn’t cooperate. He forced himself to stagger forward. Glancing back, he saw Delroz had lost consciousness again and wasn’t moving.

Banteon gritted his teeth and dragged his exhausted body. His sweat-soaked bangs clung to his forehead. When he saw the guide building where his quarters were, he let out a breath he had been holding.

The dark sky had begun to mix with the red of dawn.

“Hah…”

A sigh escaped him. Returning to his quarters, Banteon lamented his situation and ripped off the wig attached to his head. The wig changed color and drooped as soon as it was detached, and he threw it on the floor.

That was close. If he hadn’t escaped Delroz’s grasp, he might have lost his life tonight.

He threw off his outer garment and loosened his cumbersome pants. After discarding the device that hindered his vision, he finally felt his strength return.

Unable to properly change into pajamas, he threw himself onto the bed. It was an unthinkable act for him usually, but he didn’t have the energy to drink even a sip of water right now.

With his last bit of strength, he pressed the bright light above the bed. As the light dimmed, his barely maintained consciousness faded to black.