The SSS-rank Guide Doesn't Need Saving

Aisha could feel the miasma pressing harder now. It writhed against her skin like it wanted to embed itself in it, and for a moment she thought it might actually manage to do it—until a low growl rumbled somewhere deep in the man’s throat.

He’s fighting it too... Aisha realized.

Even now, as he kissed her with a hunger that made her head spin from the lack of oxygen, some part of him was still locked in war against the thing that had been trying to consume him from within.

Aisha stopped resisting.

She focused on pouring more of her ability into their connection, allowing him to get as much guidance as he needed.

Little by little, the compressed energy responded. The last bit of still fused with the miasma uncoiled and feasted on her powers.

The miasma screamed, a high-pitched shriek that seemed to shake the entire mental landscape, shuddering violently. She paused, wondering if this should be enough.

Aisha felt the man’s grip on her tighten further, his hand fisting in the fabric at her back as though telling her to continue.

He even broke his mouth from hers for a second, his breath ragged against her lips.

”Don’t stop.”

That was all he managed to say to her before he kissed her again, deeper this time, as if he wouldn’t allow her to hesitate and pull away anymore.

Aisha stared at him. And he stared back at her. Twin pools of crimson fire framed by dark brows drawn low. There was something predatory in that gaze .

Aisha didn’t stop.

She rested her hands on his chest, a form of what she thought would be easier for her to push him if something went wrong, not for anything else.

Pouring in her guiding ability with a steady flow, the burning sky above them and the black corrupted roots hissed in their dying throes.

Finally... it was over.

The last bit of miasma dissolved into nothing.

Aisha slowly pulled back her guiding ability until not a trickle came out. It felt strange, as if she had become hollow and normal again.

She blinked, and the mental landscape blurred into darkness. When her vision cleared again, she was back in the hospital garden, kneeling on the grass with her hands resting against a solid chest. The scent of blood and dirt filled her nose.

She stayed still for a moment as she tried to catch her breath.

That was... incredible.

Even after everything she had seen and lived through in the ruined world she came from, nothing could compare to what she had just experienced. It felt exactly as if she fell inside a novel and lived in it for eternity. That was what it felt like. It was surreal.

Of course, she wasn’t thinking about the kiss.

Instead, she let herself feel proud of something worth being proud of. That overwhelming power that came from her... It definitely belonged to her. She’d wondered whether she might have been the one who used that power, or if it had been her spiritual beast manifesting for the first time. Now she knew it had been hers all along.

A D-rank guide wasn’t capable of doing anything like this.

That thought alone was enough to leave her feeling satisfied.

But the moment of triumph didn’t last long.

A shadow shot out and attacked her.

Before she could even react, her back hit the ground, the impact knocking the air from her lungs. The man loomed over her, pinning her down with his weight and strength that made it clear to her the difference in their strengths.

His crimson eyes, no longer swallowed whole by that blackness earlier, glared down into hers with sharp fierceness.

”Who are you?” he demanded, voice low and rough. His hand was gripping her by the neck.

Aisha’s fingers curled against the grass beneath her. She stared right back at him with unblinking eyes.

”Does it matter?” she said with some difficulty, the pressure on her throat making it difficult to speak. ”I just saved your life.”

”Who sent you? What are you?”

Aisha rolled her eyes. This man was asking too many questions.

”No guide has ever been able to guide me.” His grip didn’t loosen as he narrowed his eyes at her. ”Not even close to what you’ve done.”

”And I can see why.” Aisha’s lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile, unimpressed despite her current position. ”Is it because you strangle and pin down anyone who tries? I doubt any guide would want to try twice.”

Something flickered across his face as he tightened his jaw.

”That’s not—”

Whatever he was meant to say next was cut off.

Footsteps were drawing closer along with voices that fortunately broke the impasse between them.

Aisha turned her gaze toward the sound and caught sight of Daisy running ahead of a nurse and four guards in battle suits, looking even more stressed than when she left to get the nurse.

It seemed the disturbance of a sentinel losing control hadn’t gone unnoticed after all. They must have pinpointed their location, and Daisy followed along them in worry.

She turned back to tell the man to let go before they were seen. It wouldn’t be good for her if unpleasant rumors were to spread around in the hospital because of this.

But he was already gone.

The weight above her vanished as though it had never been there at all. The pressure on her throat was disappearing along with it. For a second, she thought she’d imagined the whole thing, until she felt warm breath ghost against the shell of her ear.

Ghostly lips brushed close against her cheek, leaving lingering heat behind.

”Thank you,” his voice sounded, quiet enough that only she could hear it. ”We’ll see each other again.”

Aisha frowned.

She didn’t want to see him ever again. But at least he wasn’t an ungrateful man.

”Miss Aisha!” Daisy’s voice rang out as she finally reached her, dropping to her knees beside her. ”Are you hurt? Did that man do something to you? We heard there was a berserk sentinel near the hospital. Who would have thought he was here? I was so worried—”

Aisha slowly sat up, dazedly staring at the tree where the man had been sitting up against when she found him.

Her hand drifted to her cheek, where the warmth of his lips could still be felt.

She rubbed at it, as if removing dirt from her skin.

But the sensation didn’t go away.

”I’m fine,” she replied, still staring at the tree as if she could see the shadow of that man.