Chapter 47: Perhaps I killed that monster II

Jake’s mouth went dry.

For some reason, his hands grew clammy, and he rubbed them against his trousers.

Zephyr hadn’t outright admitted to killing the monster Sylvia had classified as S-rank.

He had added the word ’perhaps’.

Yet the amused, almost indifferent tone in which he said it made Jake feel as though he really had killed that S-rank monster!

It was almost as if...

Zephyr knew no one would believe that a B-rank Esper could accomplish such a feat. Even if he openly claimed that he had done it, the Association would only laugh it off.

Now, if Jake went and reported what he suspected, his gut told him that no one, not even his teammates, would believe him!

The thought sent a chill down his spine.

How terrifying.

Jake smiled wryly.

Damn it. Sometimes, having such a sharp intuition was terrible for his mental health.

Finally, he asked another question.

"Did you... Did you see any other monsters in that dungeon after saving Lucien?"

Zephyr pondered and leaned forward.

"I don’t know. But I did witness several massive bodies dissipating into thin air."

Jake’s voice carried a nervous edge. His intuition had already reached a terrifying conclusion: Zephyr, this B-rank Esper, was the reason why that dungeon was empty!

He still remembered that even the A-rank dungeon where they had first met Zephyr had been completely devoid of monsters.

It was him!

"Dissipate...? Like turning into dust...?"

Zephyr blinked at him.

"Did I say dissipate? I meant disappear."

Jake chuckled, wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead. Inwardly, he shouted.

’There was no way I am buying that!’

When he spoke again, he was very calm.

"Well, that’s enough for now. We can talk more once we reach the Association."

With that, Jake practically fled from the back of the van. He stopped the van and moved to the front seat, sending the Esper sitting beside the one driving to the back.

"I need to keep an eye on the road and make sure our journey goes smoothly."

That was his excuse.

In reality, he was already messaging his best friend, Nox, spamming his chat with one shocking message after another.

However, Nox just responded with:

"Have you gone crazy? Come back and get some guiding. I’ll get you an appointment."

Jake was left speechless. Ultimately, he sighed quietly and put his phone away.

Sometimes, he felt lonely.

Everyone else seemed blissfully clueless, while he was the only person cursed with the ability to connect the obvious dots.

Anyway, if Nox ever asked why he hadn’t warned him about Zephyr’s abnormality, Jake would shove their chat in his face!

He had told him, like always.

Nox just didn’t believe him!

Zephyr sensed every one of Jake’s movements and tapped his knee.

For now, it seemed Jake wasn’t someone he needed to guard against. Although the guy seemed sharp, he clearly didn’t know how to turn that advantage into a threat.

Finally, Zephyr closed his eyes and began comprehending the knowledge in his mind.

After everything he had experienced, he knew he couldn’t afford to waste time. He had to fully comprehend all the knowledge the Gaya System had left within his mind.

He had to master it so thoroughly that it became instinct, as natural as breathing.

He could not afford to be powerless the next time Lucien was in danger.

Nor could he ever again allow himself to be in a position where others had the power to turn him into a test subject against his will.

He had to become powerful enough to protect both Lucien and himself.

This world worshipped the strong.

Then he would become strong.

But this time, it wasn’t for recognition. He simply wanted to live the life he chose.

He wanted to live freely.

Zephyr felt his heart gradually settle.

He knew exactly what he wanted.

And the clarity brought him an unfamiliar sense of serenity. Without another thought, he rested his head on Lucien’s shoulder.

The only person he wanted by his side.

It would be great if he could achieve it.

By the time the van arrived in front of the Association building in M City, night had already fallen. Everyone was starving, so they headed straight for the cafeteria.

Zephyr went to take a bath and change his clothes first, with Lucien guiding him. Once he was finished, the two joined the others.

The cafeteria was mostly empty at this hour. Still, the moment Zephyr and Lucien walked in, the few Espers and Guides inside began whispering among themselves, their curious gazes secretly following the pair.

Whenever their eyes settled on Zephyr, a faint trace of pity flickered in their gazes.

Zephyr ignored the chatter and sat beside Lucien, across from Jake and the other two Espers. His long, slender fingers carefully set the food plate in his hands on the table.

Lucien glanced at his plate and nodded.

"Light food is good for you for now."

Jake swallowed the food in his mouth and couldn’t help but watch Zephyr eat, staring in quiet amazement. Every movement was effortless, precise, and composed. If Jake hadn’t known Zephyr was blind, he would never have guessed it from the way he ate.

There was nothing hesitant or awkward about his movements, almost as though Zephyr could see everything perfectly.

While they were eating, a sudden commotion erupted outside.

At first, the faint voices sounded like nothing more than a minor disturbance.

Then, all of a sudden, a familiar voice thundered loudly through the corridor. The chatter nearby immediately fell silent.

"Where did you say he was sent?!"

An oppressive pressure settled over the Association building, as though the entire atmosphere had changed in an instant.

Jake jerked his head up.

"Erick? He’s back already?"

He had already finished his meal, so he hurried out to see what was going on.

Lucien clicked his tongue at his reaction but followed after him out of curiosity.

Zephyr sensed their movements but didn’t immediately get up to follow. Instead, he calmly finished his meal. Unlike them, he could hear the commotion outside, so he already knew exactly what it was about.

The reason was him.

***

Author Note:

September-01

Today is an important day for this Book.

According to all the information, the important Win-Win starts today and will continue for the next three months.

These three months could decide a lot for Zephyr’s story. Maybe it will grow beyond what I ever imagined and reach many more readers.

Or maybe, despite everything, the story will remain a small corner of WebNovel and eventually be forgotten.

I honestly don’t know what will happen.

But I do know that I am going to give it my best.

And this is where I need you guys.

If you enjoy Zephyr’s story and want to support it, please consider giving Power Stones, Golden Tickets, comments, reviews, and, if possible, buying Privilege.

Your support during these three months could mean more than you realize. ♡

I cannot promise that I will never struggle with motivation or consistency, but I can promise that I will do my best to stay committed.

So, from 01-Sept to three months later, let’s see how far we can take this story.

Let’s see how far Zephyr can go.

And let’s make these three months worth remembering.

Thank you for staying with me. ♡