Chapter 38

"Oh right, I forgot to say I'm sorry. Originally, I had no intention of persuading you so urgently..."

"Persuading? You should speak properly. Persuading?"

"You're right. I'm really sorry for threatening you."

At least he knows. When he admitted with his own mouth that it was indeed a threat, Nain amusingly felt his heart soften much more than before.

"I was too impatient."

"...?"

"You keep trying to run away, and I was going crazy wanting to have you. Ah, back then I didn't know I was having a one-sided crush on Nain. I couldn't think of any other way to hold onto you. I'm sorry."

That wasn't something to worry about. Before this person, there had been no one who needed Nain. The man's anxiety was rather amusing. Nain answered as if bewildered.

"I told you I don't know how to do guiding. I might not even be a Guide. Everyone says they don't feel anything from me anyway..."

"Nain, you are a Guide."

His tone was filled with conviction. Clearly, Ash had been asserting that he was an awakener even before knowing Nain had taken awakener tests. That would also be evidence that Ash had really felt something from him.

But why had only Ash noticed? That part wasn't convincing.

"Don't you remember anything from the gate? I remember you opened your eyes briefly."

Nain frowned and searched his mind.

"I don't remember well."

"Back then, though it wasn't intentional, Nain gave me guiding... If you don't remember, there's nothing we can do about it."

Huh? At that moment, Nain caught sight of lips curving upward and tilted his head.

'...What?'

Fragmentary scenes flashed through his mind. Very blurry and hazy. In memories that had been half-asleep like a dream, he belatedly realized there had definitely been warmth penetrating his lips, and his expression hardened. Without realizing it, Nain raised his hand to touch his own lips.

"Guides have guiding dissolved in their bodily fluids too."

"You perverted bastard..."

"It's a misunderstanding. I was just giving you water."

He raised both hands and spoke playfully. Anyway, the unchanging fact was that he had pressed lips with the man in front of him when they barely knew each other. It was rather fortunate that he couldn't remember well.

"If it was your first kiss, I'll take responsibility."

"...It's fine. Fortunately, it wasn't my first kiss."

Ash observed Nain's expression carefully, then asked with a somewhat surprised face.

"Really?"

It was a half-believing expression. It wasn't something to be shocked about, so why was he acting like that? It would be stranger for a twenty-year-old who had gone through vigorous teenage years to still be keeping his first kiss. Unless he was impotent, at least one kiss...

Of course, it had been healthy relationships that never progressed beyond kissing. Still, he was extremely fortunate not to have given his first kiss to a man. He wanted to mock Ash's shocked appearance.

Whether his feelings were heavy or light didn't matter to Nain at all. What was important was that if he did nothing and let his hands stay idle in this conversation, he might completely lose the initiative.

"I understand that I'm necessary to you in many ways. Actually, I also need your help to return home. It's a shitty situation in many ways."

"...You understand well."

Ash, who had belatedly come to his senses, nodded and said. His smiling eyes just looked affectionate, but now Nain knew that behind that smile hid someone who could scheme at any time.

If he let his guard down, he could be completely taken advantage of by that face. The man was definitely not someone to be taken lightly. Nain decided once again to keep his wits about him.

"But if I'm such a necessary existence to you, when it comes time for me to return... there's a possibility you won't let me go, isn't there?"

"There's something you're overlooking—I lived perfectly fine before I picked you up. Contrary to expectations, I won't die immediately just because Nain isn't here."

Would that really be the case? He was curious if the man could still say such things after seeing that state. Nain glanced up at the shadow-like fog and kept his mouth shut.

"I told you, Nain. If you don't want to do guiding, you don't have to."

"What if that's a lie?"

"It depends on whether you believe me."

Trust... Nain muttered that word in his mouth. Trust alone couldn't solve everything. Sometimes small suspicions about others save people. Blindly believing anything was the easiest shortcut to falling into a pit of evil. No one except the person themselves could know another's true intentions with certainty.

The only thing he could trust was himself. That's why Nain needed minimum insurance.

'Insurance...'

There was only one thing that came to mind immediately.

The man's life. He glanced up at the black fog sticking thickly to Ash's back and spoke.

"Your body is completely wrecked right now. Even if you died tomorrow, no one would suspect me."

Though it could sound confrontational, Ash chuckled and shot back.

"Why did the conversation topic suddenly change to predicting my assassination?"

"Even if I don't try to kill you, at this rate you won't last even a year."

This time too, Ash wasn't particularly shaken.

"Thanks for the curse. I'll live long thanks to you."

He hadn't brought this up to curse him. Nain had also played what he considered his trump card.

"I'll help you."

"With what?"

"That will disappear if your health condition returns to its most healthy state."

"...?"

Ash followed Nain's gaze and glanced behind himself. But naturally, nothing was visible.

"Even if I tell you, you won't know anyway. I'm the only one who can see that..."

Ash tilted his head as if not understanding.

"Am I possessed by a ghost or something?"

"It's not like that..."

Nain hesitated briefly. He had predictions but no certainty. The black fog visible only to Nain's eyes was a phenomenon indicating some abnormality in a person's body, but... that was all Nain knew about the fog. He didn't know why he could see it either.

"I'm saying I'll research how to improve your health condition."

"Research?"

There was slight interest in his voice.

"You're going to research using my body? Can I ask what you're planning to do?"

"..."

Though it might sound irresponsible, Nain had no thoughts or plans yet. He just couldn't see anything else to use as collateral in this situation except the man's life.

"A-anyway, if I get involved and gradually research it, the situation will improve compared to now. I'll make it so."

To convince him, Nain began appealing with "Not to brag, but."

"I may not look it, but I've obtained certifications in herbalism and magic potion mixing, and I have sufficient practical experience at hospitals. Last summer vacation, I even participated in research on the infectious characteristics of Pulonin disease and its effects on the human body. This might sound like bragging, but I honestly think my abilities would be sufficient to apply to any hospital's pharmacy department. My talent is quite intuitive, so I have the advantage of getting immediate results without needing to observe the progress of medicine on diseases for long. You could call me a natural-born researcher."

"Mm... yes."

"So I can promise that I'll at least make sure you won't die immediately before I leave."

Looking at Nain declaring with a solemn face, Ash smiled silently. Even though he couldn't understand a single word of what he was saying... it didn't matter to him anyway.

"Yes, well... Sure. I'm used to being a test subject. I'll lend you my body, so do whatever you want with it."

Those words also felt somewhat perverted. But Nain decided not to say anything and just think it over alone. If he brought it up, the man would obviously tease him again.

"...What comes next? You seem to want something from me."

"In exchange, put this in your mouth and swallow it."

Nain took out a pendant from his pocket and held out a small bead he had kept inside it. The bead, which shone brilliantly in rainbow colors depending on the angle, was clearly not an ordinary object to anyone who saw it.

"What's this?"

"A magical tool."

At Nain's words, Ash nodded once without any sign of surprise, saying "Ah. You were a magical boy, weren't you." Nain didn't have the energy to correct his words and just let it be.

"Once you swallow that, you'll be subordinate to me and will never be able to do anything that strongly goes against my will for the rest of your life."

"Subordinate... You want to brainwash me?"

He spoke in a cheerful tone. Nain shook his head firmly.

"You just won't be able to harm me, but your free will remains intact. You can still lie and think freely. But only one thing—all actions done with the intent to deliberately harm me will be restricted... Honestly, this can't even be called brainwashing. Who would honestly tell someone and then brainwash them?"

When Nain grumbled in an annoyed voice, Ash still maintained his surprised expression and answered.

"Wow, Nain... Just whose life are you trying to ruin by carrying around such terrifying things?"

"It's not like that. I was just going to give it to my knight someday."

It was a procedure commonly followed after taking a loyalty oath. After all, you couldn't keep a knight who harbored resentment against his lord in the closest position.