Translator: Nox

23 - How to Escape the Reverse Harem Cliché

Chapter 23

The next day, when I appeared with a contract densely filled with writing, Evan looked at me with a look of disgust.

“What is all this?”

“Can’t you tell by looking? It’s an employment contract.”

“Em... ployment?”

As I studied history and economics, I learned that laws for workers didn't exist in this world.

Naturally. This wasn't some capitalist world. It was a place with classes like nobles and commoners, and special beings like Espers and Guides.

Therefore, I had to secure my own rights.

“Read it. If there’s anything you want to change, let’s find common ground and revise it.”

Evan, who eventually took the contract, frowned as he read the words on the paper.

“Contractor 1 shall guide Contractor 2 through non-contact, ambient Guiding three times a week, using contact Guiding only when there is a risk of Berserk. ...Non-contact? Does it make sense to be non-contact when I only receive it three times a week?”

“Your rank is low, so non-contact is sufficient.”

Evan’s expression grew sterner at my firm words. Yet, as if he had no counter-argument, he seemed to be cursing inwardly.

“It’s not an unfair transaction.”

“I don’t understand anything you’re saying.”

“Never mind that, just read the contract.”

Evan eventually gave up arguing and began reading the contract obediently.

While the contract was written as fairly as possible, in reality, there were many clauses that favored me. But this was also natural. I had revealed that I was a Guide to save Evan.

Now that it had come to this, Evan Olivite would demand Guiding from me, and if I refused, he would threaten to inform the Dean that I was a Guide.

That’s what a Guide is to an Esper. A being who can provide life-saving Guiding. A being they want to hold onto and bind in any way possible.

So, I made the first move. I thrust the contract forward first to prevent any other talk.

“I don’t understand this part. Why are you telling me not to ask anything?”

Evan, who had been reading the contract for a while, pointed to the third clause and asked.

〔Article 3. The contract period shall be until the end of Contractor 2’s graduation this year, and after graduation, both parties shall forget each other’s existence and carry their secrets to the grave. (3-1) To that end, no trivial questions shall be asked. No questions regarding personal lives or families, other than Guiding, shall be posed.〕

“Don’t you know about privacy?”

“Why would I do that?”

“We are like business partners. I don’t want us to interfere in each other’s personal lives.”

“Pascianne. You are truly unnecessarily thorough and strange about certain things.”

“There’s no harm in being cautious.”

Evan stared at me intently for a long time, as if displeased with my answer. Just as I thought he might pierce my face, he turned his gaze back to the contract.

“I want to change this part.”

Then, with a voice that had softened considerably, he pushed the paper back towards me.

It was unexpected. He wanted to change something? I hadn’t thought there would be anything Evan would object to, aside from the non-contact ambient Guiding.

“Article 5. Contractor 2 shall pay Contractor 1 twenty gold coins as compensation for each Guiding session.”

“What? You want to change this? Evan, I don’t want to lose out either. Even if I am a Guide, providing you Guiding without compensation is…,”

“Make it fifty.”

“……What?”

“My previous Guide used to receive forty each time, so you should too.”

Evan’s words left me speechless. I took out the pen I had tucked away, crossed out the number twenty with a flourish, and watched him write fifty above it. I found myself kneeling before him, staring up at Evan.

“You had a Guide?!”

“Of course. How many years have I been at this academy? How could I live without a Guide?”

“What, then… you don’t need a contract like this. No, where is your Guide, and why were you Berserk that day…,”

“She’s dead.”

“…….”

“One died, and three ran away.”

Evan counted on his fingers, then rolled his dark eyes to fix them on me.

Then, as if unconsciously, he reached out to touch my cheek, but I instinctively pulled my head back and evaded him.

“……You said contact was forbidden.”

“That’s stingy.”

“Anyway, I’m fine with fifty. Change it then. Are there any other complaints?”

“Do you think it makes sense to forget each other’s existence after graduation?”

Evan had been fixated on Article 3 since earlier. I couldn’t understand why he was obsessing over this particular clause when I expected him to cling to contact Guiding.

“Why wouldn’t it make sense? We won’t see each other after graduation.”

“Once we debut in high society, we won’t be able to avoid seeing each other, even if we wanted to. Our families and Pascianne.”

“That’s why I put the clause in. So we can pretend not to know each other.”

“Laila.”

Evan called my name for the first time, his eyes lacking their usual spark. He repeatedly reached out his hand towards the air around my shoulder, as if unable to touch me, then withdrew it.

“Even if you call me so desperately, my feelings won’t change. Whether we meet in high society after graduation or not, I don’t want to be involved.”

“Do you hate me?”

“Then would you like it?”

“…….”

“I hate Espers. I ran away here because I hate them. If I had known I would meet you, I wouldn’t have come.”

I thought I was quite cold-hearted, but perhaps my heart had softened as my body grew younger. When I say things like this, it becomes difficult to look the other person in the eye.

Even though I knew Evan was not the type to be hurt by such words.

“I want to add one more clause.”

“What now?”

“When we speak, we must make eye contact.”

It felt like he wanted to torment me.

I was completely defeated by Evan’s insistence on my gaze. I finally nodded, agreeing to add this unnecessary clause, and thus, the employment contract that satisfied both Contractor 1 and 2 was completed.

“Evan. You’ve confirmed the clause about paying three thousand gold coins upon contract termination, right? Unless there are unavoidable circumstances agreed upon by both parties, it cannot be terminated arbitrarily.”

“Yeah, I got it. I got it, so just give me some Guiding.”

“Three times a week…,”

“Yes, three times. I won’t exceed the limit, so just give me the Guiding.”

Although his tone was somewhat overbearing, I couldn’t object further because Evan was diligently adhering to the contract. I sat down about two steps away from him and released my Guiding.

“Laila. What’s your Guiding rank?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know? You haven’t been tested?”

“I wasn’t a Guide when I was tested.”

“Lies. Last year was the last year you were supposed to be tested, and you manifested as a Guide in just a year and can even control it like this?”

“It’s true. The control is possible because I practiced desperately.”

It was the truth. I couldn’t rely on medication forever, so I had spent almost all my time for nearly a year releasing and concealing my Guiding.

As if that weren’t enough, I received special training from advanced Guides whom I met secretly outside the territory through Lena.

Thinking my life was on the line, there was nothing I couldn’t do.

Moreover, perhaps due to the excessive setting values befitting a female protagonist, I had a talent for absorbing anything I learned. If Aiden had seen me, he might have doted on me, saying there was no greater genius.

Speaking of which, is Aiden doing well? He said he formed the best team right after entering and was immediately deployed to the border.

Then, two weeks ago, contact was lost. I received a letter saying not to worry as it would take a few days, but after two weeks with no news, I was starting to get worried.

What’s more, Orion, who was supposedly dispatched to the same location, had also stopped sending letters.

Was this how Orion felt, endlessly waiting for my replies in the past? He must have felt it even more acutely than I did.

“I should have added one more clause.”

Evan’s low voice broke my thoughts. Looking at me as if asking what I meant, Evan rested his chin on his arm and spoke as if to himself.

“When you’re with me, only think of me.”

“……Are you crazy?”

“Is it strange for an Esper to feel possessive of a Guide?”

“I’m not your Guide. I’m just a contractor.”

“It’s the same thing. For the duration of the contract, you are my Guide.”

Since his words weren’t wrong, I closed my mouth.

I felt like I was going to be swayed by Evan if this continued, so I closed my eyes. It was a silent signal for him not to speak to me anymore, and fortunately, he seemed to understand.

In the quiet storage room, only Evan’s peaceful breathing could be heard. It’s fortunate his rank is low. At least my Guiding works on him.

But what is Evan’s ability? I suddenly became curious, but I gave up on asking. Didn’t the contract clause state not to take interest in personal or family matters?

“Laila.”

“…….”

“Laila.”

“I’m tired. Don’t talk to me.”

“I’m not talking to you. I’m just calling your name.”

This is so childish. I wish I could show this side of him to those who treat him like a murderer. Look, the Evan Olivite you fear and tremble before is this petty and childish.

Then, my thoughts drifted to the rumors surrounding Evan.

He said his Guide died. And that three ran away. Could the student Evan killed have been his Guide?

However, Espers rarely kill their Guides. Unless it’s out of madness driven by possessiveness, or a desire to steal all of the Guide’s Guiding. Ah. There are also cases where they get caught up in an Esper’s Berserk.

“Laila.”

“…….”

“This time, I’m calling your name. Laila.”