Guiding the Male Lead out of His Trauma

“And it seems there’s some misunderstanding, but I only told you to keep your distance because I didn’t want to get involved in someone else’s family affairs.”

“Is that so? And how did you come to know about those family matters?”

Now that Acteon was up close, he felt far more intimidating than when we first met.

‘Even though he’s still young enough to be considered barely an adult, he’s already this big.’

High-ranking Transcendents usually possess bodies far superior to ordinary people. Their bodies develop to efficiently handle mana.

When someone like that cast such a long shadow over me, I couldn’t help but shiver.

‘At this point, he shouldn’t even have gone through his first Awakening yet.’

He’d probably experience his first Awakening soon. And before long, as soon as he entered school, he’d reach his second Awakening.

‘His grade will obviously be S-Class, completely incomparable to someone like me, a B-Class.’

For some reason, I felt overwhelmed.

With everything flowing according to the original story, I wondered if I’d even survive after Acteon’s second Awakening.

His pitch-black bangs, as if drained of all color, contrasted with the brightly lit hallway.

From between them, the silver-gray irises I’d seen earlier in the day, now stripped of any trace of a smile, stared straight at me.

“Go ahead and tell me. How did you find out?”

But something felt off.

I hadn’t noticed it until now, but…

‘Is he just tired?’

No, that’s not for me to worry about.

Instead of unconsciously retreating, I looked up at him.

‘I was careless.’

The deaths of Claire and her Guide were the source of Acteon’s trauma.

After all, that Guide was the only person who had ever shown kindness to Acteon, who was born an illegitimate child.

And yet, without realizing Acteon was there, I’d made careless remarks.

‘If I’d known you were there, I wouldn’t have spoken so recklessly.’

But what good is protesting in my head?

It’s not like Acteon can read minds.

Standing before someone so sensitive, I calmly tried to act as if I didn’t know much, feigning ignorance about the matter.

“When someone as prominent as an S-Class Transcendent suddenly graduates early and then is suddenly declared killed in action, isn’t it stranger if there aren’t any rumors at all?”

It was better to be somewhat open than to try clumsily to hide things.

Like most Awakened, Claire had also graduated from Estra Military Academy. And not only that, she’d entered at the youngest age and graduated early, a prodigy who’d drawn the attention of the higher-ups.

News of such a highly anticipated figure’s sudden death shocked everyone. There were wild rumors about a new S-Class monster appearing in an enemy country, or even that Claire had actually committed suicide. Gossip swept through the school.

“Once you get rid of the most ridiculous rumors, sometimes what’s left is surprisingly plausible speculation.”

And then, with Cassiel taking a leave of absence at the same time, the speculation about Claire Brondearn only grew hotter.

I intended to use that.

‘If I seem to know too much, it’ll be dangerous.’

Acteon was a sharp one.

Any lie would be caught in an instant. Mixing truth with rumor to get through this was the best strategy.

“It’s not something that should be spoken of carelessly, but since I could end up in a similar situation, isn’t it reasonable for me to be cautious?”

“A similar situation, you say.”

“Our grades may be different… but it doesn’t change the fact that she and I were Awakened around the same age. You see, if I were sent to the front lines at my age and ordered to kill the enemy, I think it would be unbearable.”

Acteon was silent for a moment, then as if speaking to himself, said,

“That’s the duty of an Awakened. And I don’t think that’s an appropriate excuse for meddling in someone else’s family business.”

Well… that’s not wrong.

I let my apology show on my face for that part.

But that didn’t mean I agreed with Acteon’s words.

“Even if it’s a duty, wouldn’t any normal parent hold their child back instead of pushing them to the front lines? Sorry, but I don’t see the Duke as the type to do that.”

“……”

Even if my future was to be killed by Acteon.

‘That doesn’t mean it would be wise to antagonize him.’

Born as an illegitimate child, raised without proper affection and pressured only as a prospective Transcendent.

Acteon, too, was just another victim of a country that oppressed the Awakened.

I struck straight at the heart of the matter, and Acteon fell silent. But that didn’t mean I could relax.

“If it means protecting myself and my brother, I’ll do whatever it takes. That’s why I said not to get involved with your family. It seems the Duke and the other young masters feel the same. Did I do something wrong?”

The words were already out of my mouth.

What I’d just said was almost a gamble.

Even as a cadet, such words could easily be seen as a challenge to the authority of a noble and get me executed on the spot.