Guiding the Male Lead out of His Trauma - Chapter 26.2
“Acteon Brondearn, did you imprint on Cadet Liliope because of this incident?”
The headmaster’s quiet voice carried little weight on the surface, but he wasn’t the sort of person one could just brush off lightly.
Crackle, crackle—
A white crystal, not quite transparent even as it refracted the light, quietly appeared.
“That’s not possible.”
“Your actions seem to indicate you’re refusing to answer my question.”
“I mean that it’s difficult to receive any guiding right now.”
Having answered this way, he stopped the crystallization without displaying any hostility.
Crack— The solidified mana gave a sharp, cracking sound as it fractured.
The headmaster glanced at the crystal.
“And the reason?”
“Even if guiding is attempted, stabilization won’t be possible.”
“So you’re still unstable? But the test results all showed you’ve returned to normal. If you’re trying to deceive me…”
“That’s exactly why.”
The first to understand the meaning of his words was the Guide whom the headmaster had brought.
Acteon elegantly crossed his legs and placed his hands atop them.
“As you know, Headmaster, there are very few Guides. And S-Class Guides are so rare you can count them on one hand.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I mean, there isn’t much information about S-Class Guides in this country. But anyone who’s awakened as a B-Class Guide or higher will probably understand what I’m getting at.”
The unnamed Guide asked the headmaster for permission and then spoke.
“You mean he’s not in a state that can be stabilized? Not just his heart, but his mana circuits and even his mental state are all perfectly optimized, so even if he receives guiding, there won’t be a noticeable difference from before.”
“Is that true?”
The headmaster asked the staff outside, and the Guide brought back several results and handed them over.
The report was filled with data that matched exactly what Acteon had claimed.
All physical activities were normal.
If anything, he was in optimal condition.
After that, it was easy.
Even without Acteon confirming it directly, the headmaster and the Guide exchanged a few words and accepted it.
“But this can’t serve as proof that you didn’t imprint.”
“I’ll be summoned by the Bureau soon enough anyway. If I’m lying, it’ll be revealed then.”
“……”
The headmaster still looked unconvinced, but without another word, he stood from his chair and left quietly.
Once the unwanted visitor was gone, and the isolation room fell silent, Acteon finally looked away from the open crack of the door.
‘One hurdle down.’
The result of the second awakening was as expected.
Even though he’d subconsciously realized his own rank was S-Class, actually having it confirmed didn’t feel all that great.
He couldn’t help but think about how much tighter the control and restrictions would be going forward.
After all, he’d already seen enough through Claire Brondearn.
Which is why he had no choice but to hide this fact.
“Of course. If I slip up, Senior will end up being summoned everywhere I go.”
Acteon once again recalled the memories of last night.
That day.
Acteon Brondearn had imprinted on Liliope Ortis.
And not with her permission.
She hadn’t undergone a mutual imprinting with him. It was a one-sided imprinting unique to Transcendents.
As Acteon remembered this, he smiled faintly.
It wasn’t a peaceful smile.
It was rather the type mixed with resignation and self-deprecation, yet if one looked closely, there was also a trace of elation in it.
Whether or not he’d done it unknowingly didn’t matter.
No matter how he looked at it, he realized that, aside from her, no other Guide would ever mean much to him.
Even if another S-Class Guide like her were to appear, it would be the same.
Liliope Ortis was the one who had shown him, someone who feared both relationships and the future, that he could live without hurting anyone.
No matter how terrible a monster he became, she would have the power to turn him back into a human.
But he didn’t want her to end up being used and trapped because of him.
Even if it meant he’d never be able to receive guiding from anyone but her again.
Once the sounds of people faded from around the isolation chamber, Acteon closed his eyes.
Leaning back in his chair, unmoving, he found his own pulse.
Unlike during the dark night, now his steady heartbeat thumped in a regular rhythm.
Not too forceful, not too slow.
Now that he believed someone would bring him back again, he felt as though there was nothing to fear.
He could finally start putting into action all the things he’d only thought about until now, and countless plans spun through his mind.
‘Senior has a goal.’
He was fairly certain that what she wanted was close to what he himself was aiming for.
If he could achieve that, even if she left this place and was no longer able to save him, he felt that would be enough.
At the very least, she was the kind of person who would come back for him, even if it took time, to put him right again.
That was why he was determined not to reveal to anyone that he’d imprinted.
To anyone.
So that no one would be able to shackle her.
Even though he would need her touch for the rest of his life, he couldn’t bring himself to ask her to stay by his side.
And then, a few days later.
“How are you feeling?”
When Acteon finally saw Liliope again, contrary to all the thoughts he’d rehearsed, he completely fell apart.
Ever since that incident, he just couldn’t calm down when facing her.
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