"Haha, so a kiss is a no? I was just expressing my intense desire for you."
"Go kill yourself."
My trembling hand was stopped by Marcello. My dagger was directed at his throat, an ice spear was also floating right above his head, ready to strike, while Xain was standing behind him – ready to jump any moment.
I rarely curse someone else in my life but this situation was one I had to, no matter the person.
Glancing at the four people giving him death glares, Marcello chuckled, "Seems like I'm not welcomed by your circle."
"If sexual harassment is your game, I'd never want to have you in my circle either."
I slapped away his hand wrapping around my waist and wiped my mouth. Straightening my suit, I glared at him.
"Leave. I won't see you out."
Raising both his hands like a criminal, Marcello slowly walked back. He still hadn't wiped off the nonchalant smile on his face as he turned the door and gave me one last wink.
"Alright, see you soon Ethan."
And the door shut with a click.
Hearing his footsteps slowly fading away, I let out a sigh. The sensation of his tongue entering my mouth was still vivid in my mind.
Brushing my mouth with my hand, mixed emotions came over me. We only met today, so the kiss didn't carry a fluttering feeling like when Ilyas kissed my hand, it was a kiss based on pure lust.
"Are you okay?"
Ilyas approached me, touching my hand. I knew he meant well, but my brain was overloaded with emotion that I couldn't even say a simple thank you right now.
Seeing the blank look on my face, Xain rubbed his head in frustration. "Why did you let yourself get kissed by him? You should have just dodged."
"It's already the third time." I mumbled.
"What?"
My confused teammates asked me back. I raised my gaze at them, giving out my analysis instead.
"It's already the third time he used his power. It was a speed I couldn't detect. When he kissed me, I didn't feel any movement of my body being abruptly pulled, which was impossible unless I was already in that position when he kissed me."
I tapped my wristwatch as I pulled out the chair, sitting comfortably before showing my teammates the data I had earned after searching about Marcello in the database.
"There are no records of people directly seeing him using his power. In the rare moment he raids a gate, the monster would be dead the moment he stepped into battle. So my theory is he manipulated time, which is an overwhelmingly overpowered ability, but this knowledge could be our advantage in case he ever bothered us. What do you guys think?"
I asked with the clearest voice I could, it would be a life and death situation if we were forced to fight him. Even if the three of us combined our forces, I was still not sure if we had the chance.
Tapping my finger on the table, I realized something was off.
Silence had fallen over the meeting room. Confused by the sudden mute party, I looked at my teammates.
"Ethan."
"Yes?"
"Sometimes you're too logical for your own good."
Cedric let out a sigh, looking as if I were a naughty child he had already given up on. Xain and Ilyas also gave me a similar look.
"That's just how he is. Too oblivious about everything in this world."
Ilyas shook his head, while Xain and Cedric were nodding to his words.
'I wonder what agreement they are nodding to.'
I didn't know what I was oblivious about, I was an adult who paid my bills and taxes. I didn't think I was lacking in common sense to function in society.
But still, wasn't it good to think logically?
It would be a serious matter if Marcello launched an attack on this country, especially because it would be our team that had to clean up the mess.
"Ethan."
Ilyas held out his hand in front of me. I tilted my head, wondering why, but still obediently placed my hand on top of his. I could hear him chuckled and when I raised my gaze, he was signaling Xain and Cedric with his eyes – smiling.
'What is this about?'
I was suspicious about what they were talking about with their eyes, but when I wanted to ask about it, Ilyas smiled at me.
"I'll start guiding you now."
'Ah, I see so it's about guiding.'
I nodded my head, following Ilyas as he grabbed my hand and guided me to the sofa. Cedric and Xain quietly leave the room, giving us some time alone.
Ilyas guiding energy flowed into me. Feeling a bit at ease, I lay my head on the sofa, closing my eyes.
"Was what that person said true? That he's your brother's business partner."
"Yes, he's the main investor of Wilson's company."
"I don't like him." Ilyas muttered.
I opened my eyes when I felt Ilyas shift his body. He fidgeted his fingers that were holding my hand before opening his mouth.
"Ethan, what do you think about an esper and a guide relationship?"
'That's a random question.'
Though society pictured guide as espers' personal battery, in the comic my sister read, it was portrayed as an obsessive romantic relationship – one where an esper couldn't let go of their guide because of their desire to relieve themselves of the pain in their body. As long as the guide was capable, the esper would obsess over them, no matter the gender. Homosexuality was normal in this world because of this.
Personally, because there's no such thing as espers and guides in my previous life, I labeled it as a symbiotic mutualism unique to this world – no matter what type of relationship developed between them was.
But, if I were the esper in that relationship...
"I wouldn't mind an esper and a guide relationship, in fact, I do encourage them, as long as they both consent to it."
It was a common occurrence and if I had to follow the common sense of this world, seeing an esper and a guide being lovey-dovey was something I shouldn't judge. Over the past year, quite a lot of my esper friends also found their guide and started romantic relationship with them.
'Maybe Ilyas is asking me for advice.'
It's been months since we first met. In a romance fantasy, it's already time for the main character to develop interest in one of their male leads.
"Why? Found an esper you fancy?"
I teased him with a smile, but he returned my smile with a serious gaze.
"Yes."
'Ohhh!'
I almost cheered outwardly when Ilyas said it. I thought I could finally watch him and his relationship bloomed on the sideline.
Was it one of us? Or someone else?
But I guess it's my karma for avoiding the obvious signs Ilyas had shown me all this time.
"I want you to become my esper."
Ilyas inched closer to me. He touched my cheek and gently brushed it.
"Let me become your exclusive guide Ethan."