Gathering Husbands with a System in a Game Like World [BL]

”Where the hell are you taking me?” Ayan asked with an annoying voice.

Kai rolled his eyes. What kind of person got rescued and immediately started complaining like this?

”To the clinic. You’re bleeding all over the place.”

”I said I can manage.”

”And I said I don’t care. Move.”

All the way back through the outer streets of Veyrhold, Ayan had been nothing but a pain in the ass. He walked too slow on purpose, muttered under his breath every time Kai adjusted his grip, and kept throwing out sharp little comments like Kai was personally offending him by making sure he didn’t collapse. The cute face made the attitude somehow worse. It was hard to get properly annoyed at someone who looked like that while being so determined to be difficult.

By the time they reached the Guild-affiliated clinic, Kai was seriously considering leaving him on the steps.

The medics took over quickly. They cleaned the wound, applied a sealing salve, and wrapped the arm. Nothing vital had been damaged. Ayan would be sore, but he would recover. Throughout the entire process he stayed mostly silent, only answering the medics in short, clipped words. Whenever Kai caught his eye, Ayan looked away like he’d been burned.

The System remained quietly active.

[Candidate 006 affinity fluctuating between 11% and 19%. Unstable pattern persists.]

Huh? Seriously though what’s this guy’s deal?

[It appears that candidate 006 has some psychological issues]

Yeah no, i am not dealing with that.

Once Ayan was settled and the medics confirmed he needed rest, Kai left him with a flat ”Stay put” and headed for the detention wing. He still had two idiots to deal with.

***

Elias and Lucien were being held in adjoining reinforced rooms. Suppression cuffs around their wrists. When Kai was allowed in, Elias looked up first.

”About time. I was starting to think you got lost.”

Lucien sat more quietly, posture still straight even with the restraints. His gaze settled on Kai with calm attention.

A Guild officer entered behind Kai carrying a thin folder.

”Kai Valerius. A-rank. You’re listed as a material witness to the incident. Both detainees are scheduled to appear before the regional review board. You will be required to testify.”

Kai blinked.

”Testify?”

”Correct. Until the hearing, both individuals are being released on probation. Conditions are as follows: they will remain within Veyrhold city limits, they will wear magic-nullifying bracelets at all times, and any further large-scale ability use will result in immediate re-arrest and additional charges.”

Elias lifted his cuffed hands with open distaste.

”Nullifiers. Fantastic.”

The officer ignored him and continued.

”Violation of probation terms will be treated as contempt of Guild authority. Hearing is set for five days from now. You are all free to go once the bracelets are fitted.”

The process was quick. The heavy cuffs were swapped for thinner nullifying bracelets that sat cold against the skin. Elias flexed his fingers already annoyed about them... for the next five days, he would be on this cuffs. Lucien accepted the restriction without comment.

When they finally stepped out of the detention wing together, the late afternoon light felt too bright.

Elias rolled his shoulders.

”Five days stuck in this city with my magic half-dead. Perfect.”

Lucien glanced at him.

”You staged a public catastrophe. Consequences were inevitable.”

”We staged a public catastrophe,” Elias corrected. ”Don’t rewrite history Flower boy”

Kai walked between them, already tired.

”Both of you are lucky they didn’t keep you locked up until the hearing. Just try not to make it worse.”

Elias smirked.

”No promises.”

They made it two streets away from the Guild before Kai spoke again.

”I need to check on someone later. A boy who was injured because of your carelessness.”

Elias frowned.

”Who?”

Lucien turned his head slightly.

”Who?”

Kai gave them both a flat look.

”There was an injured guy in the clearing when I got there. Got caught in the aftermath of your grand performance. I took him to the clinic. I’m going to make sure he’s not dead.”

Elias raised an eyebrow.

”And why do you care?”

”Because unlike some people, I don’t leave bodies behind after a staged fight.”

Before either of them could push further, a young messenger in a plain vest approached them at a quick pace. He held out a sealed black envelope with a thin red thread tied around it.

”Delivery for Elias Crowe and Lucien. Urgent.”

Kai took the envelope since he was closest and turned it over. The names on the front were clear. Elias Crowe. Lucien. No mention of Kai at all.

He handed it over.

Elias broke the seal and pulled out a single card. Lucien leaned in to read it at the same time. The message was short and precise.

Your display was noted.

If you are interested in opportunities beyond standard Guild work, come to the eastern warehouse district tomorrow at dusk. Warehouse 7.

Bring only those involved in the fight.

— R.L.

Elias let out a low, pleased sound.

”Well. Look at that. The fish actually bit.”

Lucien’s eyes sharpened.

”The Red Ledger.”

Kai frowned and turned to ask the messenger who had sent it.

The street behind them was empty.

The messenger was gone, One moment he had been standing there. The next, the space he had occupied was just ordinary afternoon foot traffic.

Kai stared at the empty spot.

”Okay. That’s not ominous at all.”

Elias folded the card and slipped it into his coat, nullifier bracelet glinting on his wrist.

”Tomorrow at dusk, then.”

Lucien nodded once.

Kai looked between the two of them, then back at the spot where the messenger had vanished, and exhaled hard.

Somewhere across the city, a prickly, cute-faced B-rank with unstable affinity was sitting in a clinic. Two SSS-ranks were stuck on probation with their magic locked down. And the Red Ledger had just extended a formal invitation that didn’t even have Kai’s name on it.

He dragged a hand down his face.

”I hate today...”

Elias grinned.