16 - How to Escape the Reverse Harem Cliché
Chapter 16
Thanks to escaping behind the checkpoint, I managed to avoid meeting the Countess, but the problem was what came next. It was my first time in this place, and I was so flustered trying to find a hiding spot that I couldn't think straight.
As I ran around frantically, people's gazes started to fall on me one by one. Anyone could see I looked suspicious, and after a few glances, they began to whisper amongst themselves, looking as if they would report me to the guards at any moment.
I need to hide...! If this continues, I'll be dragged back to the checkpoint.
On top of that, I was breaking out in a cold sweat, my whole body shivering. I wiped the dripping sweat with the back of my hand and looked around again, searching for a place to conceal myself.
"Laila!"
Startled by Orion's voice from behind me, I grabbed my dress and ran again.
Why is he still chasing me?! If he knew I was running away from him, he shouldn't be following! But Orion, unaware of my thoughts, was closing the distance between us.
With no other choice, I ducked into an alley and hid behind a trash can, covering my mouth with my hand and holding my breath.
Just then, I saw Orion pass by the entrance of the alley where I was hiding. I wanted to slip out of the alley during this chance, but a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over me, and I slumped to the ground.
I decided it would be better to rest a little before leaving, so I leaned my back against the wall, pulled my knees to my chest, and buried my face.
"Laila."
Orion, who had eventually found me, was calling my name from the far end of the alley entrance.
Contrary to my expectation that he would barge in immediately, Orion stood still in his spot, as if to show he had no intention of threatening me.
"It's okay, Laila. It's me, Orion. You don't have to be scared."
"......"
"I'm sorry. Did I startle you by calling out to you so suddenly?"
Actually, Orion had no reason to apologize. If a friend he hadn't seen in a while suddenly turned pale and ran away, Orion must have been the one who was bewildered.
So I should have answered that it was okay, but unfortunately, I didn't have the energy to do so. Even now, a faint Guiding was leaking from my body.
It was a relief that Orion, unlike Valerian, didn't sense Guiding well. In the original story, he only reacted to the Guiding of Rose, who had high purity and a high rank.
My rank is low now, so Orion wouldn't be able to sense my Guiding from this distance, would he...?
Even in the original story, Orion didn't sense Laila's Guiding well even after reuniting with her after her Manifestation. He only barely accepted it when they were in a life-threatening situation and made physical contact, so it was highly probable that he hadn't noticed my current Guiding at all.
So, if I can just somehow get out of this situation...
"Your Guiding has weakened considerably since a moment ago, Laila."
No, he noticed. Oh, I'm completely screwed, aren't I?
I ran a hand through my hair and let out a long sigh. It's one problem after another.
"I'll help you. I told you, I'll never do anything Laila dislikes. Okay?"
Orion seemed to think I was afraid of him and was spending his time trying to calm me down.
Meanwhile, my mind was elsewhere.
If what was flowing out of my body was Guiding, then the pain I experienced a few weeks ago must have been Manifestation Pain...
But why didn't I realize it until now? And could Manifestation Pain end so briefly? The original story described it as agonizing, lasting for three days and nights!
What's more, it was strange that Valerian and Aiden didn't notice my Guiding when I met them a few days after that pain.
Of course, Valerian was briefly mistaken, but it was confirmed that it belonged to the Guides the Count brought, not mine. Valerian Astolphe himself confirmed it, so this must be the truth.
Most importantly, Guiding, once it starts to flow out, continues to leak unless one can consciously stop it. I don't know how to control it at all, and isn't that why I'm running away like this right now?
So, if the pain from a few days ago was Manifestation Pain, Aiden and Valerian would have noticed it by now.
Then why was it quiet until now, and only surfacing now...?
Then, I suddenly remembered the medicine the Countess had given me.
Yes, that day. The day I was delirious with fever. That suspicious white pill the Countess pushed into my mouth. After taking it, my fever subsided instantly.
So, was that medicine the problem? Then that day's cold... could it really have been Manifestation Pain, not a cold?
At this point, that was the only situation I could suspect. That was the first time I had been so sick, so if there was Manifestation Pain, it could only have been that day.
This means the white pill the Countess gave me wasn't a fever reducer, but a medicine related to Manifestation Pain.
A shiver ran down my spine. How did the Countess know about my condition?
Did she know... that I would become a Guide? How?
In the original story, Laila only manifested when she was seventeen. The Countess and Aiden didn't know Laila was a Guide until she suffered severe Manifestation Pain.
So how did the Countess know and give me medicine? Was that medicine really for reducing Manifestation Pain? If so, why was it readily available at the Count's mansion? As if she knew I would manifest.
Or... is it a medicine that hides the Guiding being emitted from the body? Could it be that Laila manifested not at seventeen, but earlier?
Could it be that Laila had already manifested as a Guide before I possessed her?
Did the original story change? Or is there a secret within the original story that I didn't know?
"Laila."
I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice the shadow lengthening over my head. Startled by the low voice, I flinched, and the other person also stepped back slightly.
"I'm sorry, Laila. You didn't answer, so I was worried."
"...How did you recognize me?"
"How could I not recognize Laila?"
Orion smiled gently at my delayed response.
He leaned against the opposite wall, watching me silently.
"It really is Laila."
"......"
"I thought I was dreaming. I missed you so much I thought I was mistaking someone else for Laila... but it really is Laila."
Orion's blond hair fluttered slightly in the breeze. Through his fluffy bangs, his blue eyes met mine. As always, he looked at me intently and smiled beautifully.
"You've... grown quite a bit taller since I last saw you."
Having nothing else to say, I brought up such a trivial topic. Yet, Orion seemed delighted, nodding with a smile.
"Yes. I grew up fast, didn't I?"
"Yes, well... I suppose so."
Ah, this is awkward. I scratched my head and avoided his gaze, but Orion bent down, lowering himself to my eye level.
Then, he cautiously extended his hand towards me.
"Laila. Can I have your hand? Your Guiding has weakened a lot since earlier, so it's not very noticeable now."
"...You can feel my Guiding?"
"Yes. How could I not?"
Right. How could I have expected him not to? I foolishly closed my eyes tightly, then opened them again at my own stupidity.
Orion was still looking at me and smiling. As if to say it was alright, he nodded slightly and extended his hand again.
"Don't worry, Laila. I'll absorb what little is left. Then it won't be noticeable at the checkpoint."
"......"
"You don't like having manifested as a Guide, do you?"
His intuition was still sharp; he seemed to know what I was thinking just by looking at my eyes.
Even as I hesitated, reaching out and then pulling my hand back, Orion didn't pressure me and waited patiently.
After all, I couldn't deceive Orion. So, wouldn't it be better to accept his help to get out of this immediate crisis? He's not the type to blackmail me over my secret, anyway.
Right. First, I need to get out of this alley and get my bag from Lena. Then, I'll take out the medicine I put in the bag and swallow it.
I don't know for sure what that medicine is, but judging by the Countess's words and the situation a few days ago, I felt that taking it would help me overcome the crisis I was facing.
I carefully placed my hand on Orion's, who had been waiting patiently.
At that moment, the warmth I had been feeling seemed to rush out and flow into Orion's clasped hand.
"Your Guiding feels like Laila."
"What?"
"It means it's good."
According to the original story, Espers would go berserk if they received Guiding that matched them well, but it seemed my current Guiding was barely making a dent. Judging by the fact that Orion, with the same expression as before, helped me stand up.
I had been worried, but now that I confirmed my Guiding was nothing special, the previous confrontation felt strangely awkward.
As I awkwardly scratched the bridge of my nose, Orion bent down slightly, met my eyes, and asked with a smile.
"But Laila. When did you manifest as a Guide?"
"I don't know. Probably a few days ago... but I'm not sure exactly."
"Did you have Manifestation Pain? Is that why you came to the capital?"
"No, that's not it. The situation is complicated, but it's the last year I can get tested, so I came. It was a good opportunity."
"I also got permission to go out for the first time in a while, so our timing just happened to coincide."
I nodded vaguely. Noticing that I was reluctant to talk about this matter, Orion suggested we stay there until he absorbed the remaining Guiding and then leave.
I nodded again and casually brought up the question I had wanted to ask for a while.
"Is the Academy any good?"
