Chapter 155: Ch 155: Radiant Guiding Project

Noah intended to visit Erin after class, but unfortunately, he did not get a chance to because his teacher called out to him.

"Student Noah, can you stay behind for a bit? There is something I need to discuss with you."

The smile on his teacher’s face looked a little excited, which made Daniel look worried. The other guide placed a hand on Noah’s shoulder and whispered rather loudly so that even their teacher could hear.

"Do you want me to stay with you?"

The subtle glare their teacher sent Daniel was new, and it made Noah feel surprised as well. After all, the teachers adored Daniel. So for a teacher to give him a look like this just spelled trouble.

Noah did not feel good about leaving Daniel in here with the teacher, so he quickly shook his head.

"There is no need for you to stay behind. Besides, I am sure that whatever the teacher wants to discuss is not that important anyway. You should get back to our room and get some rest."

Noah assured Daniel that he would be fine, but he was more nervous about the dark look in Alan’s eyes.

Daniel was less likely to do something compared to Alan, and Noah was not in the mood to clear up a mess. But luckily, Alan did not even hint at the fact that he was planning anything. He only let out a chuckle before he ruffled Noah’s hair.

"Well, you heard our Noah. If he does not want us to stick around, then we might as well oblige him for now. Let’s get going. He can give us a call if he needs us anyway."

Alan reminded Daniel, who still had a sour look on his face. But he no longer looked as sour as before as he nodded.

"Alright, I understand. But still, yell loudly if you feel like you need our help. We will stay nearby to help you out."

Daniel promised, and Alan nodded to show his support before they left the room. Noah did not even realise he had tensed up due to their proximity until he let out a sigh, and all the fear he had been holding bled away with it.

His eyes involuntarily moved towards the teacher, who was still waiting for him to head down with a smile on his face. But impatience was starting to take shape in that expression as well.

’Sigh’

’I better get this over with and then visit Erin. I have a feeling he would be waiting for me.’

So Noah collected his things and made his way to his teacher’s desk. His teacher looked at him with his dark eyes, but the expression on his face kept changing.

It went from unrest to ease and then shock. Finally, it rested on suspicion, but the teacher masked it with a smile.

Noah took a step back as the esper teacher took a conscious step towards him and extended his arms to enclose them around Noah. Luckily, Noah avoided that hug, and their teacher looked a little irritated.

"Student Noah, there is no need to be like this. Aren’t I your teacher? I am not trying to harm you here. And surely, a small hug is not going to hurt you."

The teacher complained as he stepped forward once more. But all it did was make the alarm bells inside Noah’s mind ring even louder.

"It’s fine. I am not used to people touching me, so it feels uncomfortable. We can talk while maintaining this much distance."

Noah assured his teacher, who did not seem to know what boundaries were. The teacher ignored him anyway and warped his arm behind Noah’s shoulder. He stepped forward, and it was getting into the realm of harassment.

’Should I elbow him to get him off me or smack him around? Or maybe—’

Noah was having a hard time deciding what he should do when he felt the teacher’s hand creeping along his back. That was the last straw, and Noah grabbed that offending wrist before putting it back down.

"I don’t feel comfortable. If you don’t have anything important to say, then I would like to take my leave. I need to visit Professor Erin—"

"Ah, that’s right! I recalled why I asked you to come here. Look at this! I want you to participate in this opportunity at all costs."

The teacher extended the form towards Noah, causing Noah to frown and look at the brochure.

[Confidential: Radiant Guiding Project Contract]

Noah read a few pages of the contract, but his frown only deepened.

"What is this? Teacher, I am a B-class guide. I cannot even guide an esper properly while holding their hand, and you want me to try Radiant Guiding? I cannot—"

"But aren’t you just saying this without even trying? Student Noah, you have no idea how tantalising you are right now. I heard that you underwent an accident and your guiding changed, and it seems like it’s true. Even now, your powers are reaching for me, forcing me to react to you—"

The teacher took a step forward, clearly enchanted by Noah’s guiding that was leaking out like a broken faucet. This made Noah nervous, causing him to take a step back.

"Teacher, let’s be a little more rational—"

"What’s there to be rational about? A guide exists to please an esper, and you are no exception. You used to be useless before, but now you might not be as useless as before. You will also not get a better opportunity than this. So stop hesitating and take this offer right now."

Noah stared at the teacher in disbelief, his fingers tightening around the contract until the paper began to crumple slightly under the pressure.

The words themselves were not unfamiliar to him, because he had heard similar things from people in the past who believed that a guide’s only purpose was to serve an esper, but hearing them from a teacher made his stomach twist uncomfortably.

"I don’t think that is an appropriate way to speak to a student."