26 - I Healed the Male Lead's Trauma
Episode 26
5. The Heroine Didn't Need a Hero (2)
A secret chamber inside the research building, connected to the Garden of Oaths.
"..."
Inside the isolation room built for a Transcendent Being with a high risk of going berserk.
Akteon, who was sitting quietly, greeted the person entering with silence.
Last night, the second Awakening, which almost led to the worst outcome of a berserk state, was successfully contained.
The probability of anything else happening was slim.
Nevertheless, he, already registered as a person of interest, could hardly escape the attention of the people here.
'How I treat that person now will determine how much longer I have to stay here.'
The heart that had been raging like an angry bull was already calmly settled.
Facing the person entering, Akteon suddenly recalled the miracle of last night.
"Don't trust the Guide. Don't entrust yourself to them. In the end, they won't be able to handle a monster like us and will die."
"Don't forget what I said. We're monsters."
Claire Brondeahrn's last words as she died.
It was no different from a curse.
It was the reason he came to believe that a Guide getting involved with a Transcendent Being like him would do no good.
Guide and Transcendent Being.
In the end, they were both in the same position, being used to win the war with the label of Evolved Being.
But in Akteon's world, they were always the ones who were sacrificed.
'...But Liliop Ortiz.'
The death of that person he followed like an older sister.
He thought that nightmare would repeat itself.
He was afraid that he would be standing in the same place where Claire was crying, doing the same thing...
'If it's Liliop Ortiz...'
Maybe the same thing won't happen again.
The appearance of the only savior who will return the self who will become a monster back into a human.
As long as she is there, a situation like last night will not happen again.
Thanks to her, the heart and magic circuit, which play the role of drawing in magic power and shaping it, are maintaining a stable state.
As long as he doesn't sense that strange magic power again.
No, even if he does sense it, now that he has completed the second Awakening, he won't be swept away by it.
But it was questionable whether the person who came to see him would believe these words.
The person who came to meet him in person was the Dean.
From the beginning, the Dean started in an overbearing tone, like a supervisor who came to interrogate him.
"How are you? Is it comfortable here?"
"Thanks to the Dean's consideration, it's not bad."
"That's a relief. Duke Ortiz also asked me to pay special attention to you, so I told the researchers in advance."
Although it was his first time in isolation, there was nothing here that could be called convenience for an Evolved Being.
But Akteon smiled, creating a part for the Dean to show off so that he could be lenient with him.
Sitting on the rickety wooden chair, the Dean received and scanned the data handed over by the researcher.
The creaking sound roughly brushed past his eardrums, feeling particularly grating.
"Actually, I came here to ask you something."
Instead of speaking, the Dean gestured to someone he had brought with him.
The man standing behind stepped forward and extended his hand.
"I'll try Guiding you for a moment."
He said he had something to ask, but he started by issuing an order disguised as permission.
No way.
This wasn't a question.
It was a 'confirmation.'
He was already half-convinced of something and was trying to verify it.
Akteon looked at the Dean with a faint smile on his face.
There was only one thing he wanted to confirm.
If he came to see him at this timing.
'...Someone must have reported that there was a possibility.'
One thing they would suspect in this situation.
Imprinting.
'It was a second Awakening that almost turned into a berserk state. It was an unusual situation, so they're trying to confirm whether I imprinted on Liliop Ortiz, who Guided me, against my will.'
It is not common for a Transcendent Being to unilaterally imprint on a Guide.
However, as long as there are cases, even if extremely rare, they could not help but pay attention.
Including the Dean, the Evolved Being Management Agency, and even the Crown Prince.
They did not want any flaws in the new high-ranking Transcendent Being.
'A Transcendent Being who has imprinted on a specific Guide cannot receive Guiding from any other Guide.'
High-ranking Transcendent Beings are very useful.
As useful as they are, they will have to be sent here and there in the future, but being able to receive stabilization from only one Guide is too inefficient.
'Moreover, the Evolved Being Management Agency has not yet made a definite assessment of my usefulness.'
His power and lethality are as good as proven as combat power.
However, a detailed analysis of how much mental strength is consumed in operating magic power and whether physical characteristics are compatible with abilities has not been completed.
They would definitely try to eliminate as many variables as possible that deviate from their calculations.
Instead of taking the hand the Guide offered, Akteon.
"..."
Quietly operated his magic power.
"Akteon Brondearne, did you imprint on Liliop Ortiz because of this incident?"
The Dean's low voice did not carry much weight, but he was not a person to be taken lightly.
Crackling...
A white crystal that was not completely transparent even when light passed through it quietly appeared.
"Of course not."
"Your actions seem to be refusing my question."
"It means it's difficult to receive Guiding right now."
With that answer, he stopped shaping without any threat.
Crack, the hardened magic power cracked with a sharp cracking sound.
The Dean's eyes glanced at the crystal.
"Why?"
"Even if you try Guiding, you won't be able to stabilize me."
"Are you still unstable? But the examination results all stated that you had returned to normal. If you're thinking of deceiving me..."
"That's why."
The Guide the Dean brought was the first to understand the meaning of those words.
Akteon elegantly crossed his legs and placed his hands on them.
"As the Dean knows, there are very few Guides. Moreover, the number of S-class Guides can be counted on one hand."
"What are you trying to say?"
"There is a lack of information about S-class Guides in this country. But anyone who has Awakened as a B-class Guide or higher probably knows what I'm trying to say."
The unnamed Guide asked the Dean for permission and opened his mouth.
"You're saying you're not in a state where you can be stabilized? Not only your heart but also your magic circuit and mental state. Because you are perfectly maintaining the optimal state, even if you receive Guiding, there will be no clear difference from before you received it."
"Is that true?"
The Guide received several result sheets and handed them to the Dean, who asked the question to the outside.
The contents of the densely written result sheets were exactly as Akteon had claimed.
All physical activities were normal.
Rather, he was maintaining the best condition.
After that, it was easy.
Even if he didn't explicitly affirm it, the Dean and the Guide exchanged a few words and agreed.
"But this cannot be proof that you have not imprinted."
"I'll be called to the Management Agency soon anyway. If I'm lying, it will be revealed then."
"..."
The Dean still did not erase the suspicious look.
But he got up from his chair without answering and obediently went outside.
After the unwanted guests left.
In the quiet isolation room, Akteon took his eyes off the outside beyond the open door.
'I've overcome one hurdle.'
The result of the second Awakening was as expected.
Even though he was vaguely aware that his rank was S-class, he didn't feel good about being confirmed.
How much control and sanctions will be imposed in the future.
It was because he had seen it all through Claire Brondeahrn.
So he had no choice but to hide this fact as well.
"Well, if I made a mistake, Liliop Ortiz would be drafted with me wherever I go, so I can't help it."
Akteon recalled the memory of last night once again.
That day.
Akteon Brondearne imprinted on Liliop Ortiz.
Without even asking for her permission.
Not a mutual imprinting, but a unilateral imprinting unique to Transcendent Beings.
Akteon smiled faintly as he recalled this again.
It wasn't a peaceful smile.
Rather, it was a kind mixed with resignation and self-deprecation. But within it, there was also a joy that you wouldn't know unless you looked closely.
It didn't matter whether he did it knowingly or not.
It was because he realized that any Guide other than her would not have much meaning to him no matter how he thought about it.
The same would be true even if another S-class Guide of her level appeared.
Liliop Ortiz told him, who was afraid of relationships with people and the future, that he could live without hurting anyone.
Even if he becomes a terrible monster.
With that power to turn him back into a human.
He didn't want her to be used and tied down because of him.
Even though he could no longer receive Guiding from anyone other than her.
He couldn't dare to ask her to stay by his side.
And a few days later.
"How's your body?"
Akteon, who ran into Liliop Ortiz after a long time, broke down as it was, unlike what he had been thinking about all along.
He couldn't calm down in front of Liliop Ortiz after that incident.
