Delroz might not have been to his liking, but there was no denying that the man had helped ease the situation. The taut, wire-tight tension that had gripped the air had slackened noticeably in just a day. Even faint noises could be heard from the direction of the tents—likely the sounds of people joyfully clinking glasses. Quite a few were probably celebrating over drinks.
Everyone seemed to be basking in happiness—everyone except Banteon. The festive atmosphere only made his mood more turbulent. Instead of walking his usual path, Banteon veered toward a less-traveled, secluded trail.
As he walked down the quiet, solitary path just as he’d hoped, his lodging came into view in the distance. Sotenru had tried to arrange a special tent for him, but Banteon had refused. In the end, Sotenru had prepared his tent in a quiet area on the outskirts, where no one passed by.
Once he set up his personal lighting, the place felt pleasantly cozy. But that peace and stillness were now disturbed—there was a shadow flickering where it didn’t belong.
It was a man’s shadow, smaller than Banteon. There shouldn’t be anyone coming to find him here. As he grew wary of the unfamiliar visitor, the man called out softly.
“…Sir.”
“Keslan?”
A familiar voice. Only then did he see the damp brown hair swaying under the faint lighting. The uninvited guest was Keslan. With his guard down, Banteon moved closer to him.
“What’s going on?”
“It just felt like it’s been a while since I saw you. I hope I’m not being rude.”
“No, it’s not that…”
He wanted to say that showing up silently at this hour wasn’t exactly proper, but the atmosphere was different from usual, and the words caught in his throat. This wasn’t the same confident, endearing Keslan he knew—there was something sorrowful and fragile about him now.
Maybe he was struggling with something in the Subjugation Squad. After all, it was his first time participating as a combatant since graduating from trainee status. The psychological pressure might be getting to him.
“Are you having a rough time?”
He must’ve come with a reason, yet Keslan hesitated and stalled. Eventually, it was Banteon who approached first.
“Do you want me to call a medic?”
“…”
Keslan, who usually chattered endlessly, now kept his mouth tightly shut. It was unlike him. Banteon liked younger men precisely because they were lighthearted, cheerful, and fun. And Keslan—barely into adulthood—had always fit that mold perfectly.
This kind of heavy atmosphere was the last thing he wanted. Just as Banteon’s expression began to crease with discomfort, Keslan, sensing the shift, finally spoke. His voice was so faint that even Banteon, who stood nearby, could barely hear it.
“Sir… would it be alright if we talked inside?”
“Inside?”
Following Keslan’s gaze instinctively, Banteon’s eyes landed on his own tent. He wanted to go inside—with Banteon—this late at night. Only then did Banteon get a proper look at him.
His curly brown hair was still damp, as though he’d just washed up. Dressed in casual clothes, loose-fitting and soft, he looked even younger and more tender than usual. The fabric beneath his coat was thin—not at all suitable for the cold air of the mountains.
The scent of soap clung to him. At this hour, alone, in a tent, if they were to talk about anything…
It was obvious.
Keslan brushed his hand along Banteon’s forearm and leaned in, the scent of soap lingering on his skin flooding the space around them. It was a blatant signal.
Keslan was one of the Espers Banteon had doted on for quite a while. Most Espers he encountered eventually realized they were being treated like pampered pets and distanced themselves after a few months.
Even if they didn’t, they would usually back off on their own when they met a compatible Guide—opting for someone slightly less ideal, but devoted solely to them, rather than clinging to someone as unpredictable as Banteon.
But Keslan had continued visiting Banteon’s office regularly for quite some time. He’d started coming shortly after turning eighteen. It had been over a year now.
Sexual contact was against the rules, so Banteon had limited himself to harmless teasing—playful gropes and flirtation. But he had never come on this strong before.
“Just for a bit… sir.”
“You… No.”
He had toyed with him a bit too long. He didn’t know what had made Keslan show up so worked up tonight, but Banteon admitted to himself that some of the blame lay with him. Teasing and enjoying him, only to push him away when he came closer—that had gone on too long. Maybe, caught up in the fun of it, he had crossed the line.
This was still the Subjugation Squad. The rules of the Center were in effect here, and if word got out, it wouldn’t reflect well on him.
But even as he thought how troublesome this was, temptation gnawed at him.
As he quietly opened the tent flap, a world entirely different from the damp, earthy outside air unfolded. The tent was equipped with a perfectly regulated environment—humidity controlled round-the-clock with mana stones and a stable heating system.
From the outside, it just looked like a clean, well-kept space. But inside, it was adorned with rare mana stones, brought from his family home. Things too valuable to use just once—but to Banteon, they were no more than pebbles.
Keslan, startled by the unexpected interior, paused for a moment. Then, without hesitation, he slipped his fingers between Banteon’s and laced them together. His hand was warm, the gentle skin tickling between Banteon’s fingers. When Banteon looked down, Keslan smiled, his cheeks dimpling softly.
His face looked innocent, but deep in his eyes gleamed a heavy, unshakable possessiveness.
“Just so you know—this won’t change the matching rate.”
“Of course. I’m not that greedy.”
They both knew without saying a word. Banteon’s matching rate was not determined by the system but by Banteon and his family. Keslan was no fool; he would have noticed that his matching rate with Banteon was manipulated.
Even if they spent the night together like this, Keslan’s firm statement that he had no intention of accepting him as an Esper made Keslan just smile. Keslan, who smiled as if all he wanted was this moment, took off his coat. At that sight, Banteon could only smile faintly.
Keslan’s lightly dressed body, with his pale and hairless skin, was fully exposed, unsuitable for the still chilly weather. If clothing was meant to protect the body, then the clothes Keslan was wearing had completely lost their purpose.
“Come here.”
Sitting in the chair, he pulled Keslan, who was approaching, by the waist. He kissed the cheek of the cute guy who was slightly tense and bowing his head to him. The soft texture lightly touched his tongue and then fell away. Banteon barely suppressed his slightly rising lips.
There was no way he wouldn’t be moved.
After striking out in Yasen the other day, he came here soon after, and he had already been living a forced celibate life for several months. Since there was no way to relieve himself in the Subjugation Squad, he thought he would have to live in celibacy for a few months.
In such a situation, it was impossible to refuse when someone of his taste approached with a reddened face. The Center’s rules briefly flashed through his mind and disappeared. Anyway, as long as they weren’t caught, it would be fine. Thanks to Commander Sotenru’s consideration, Banteon’s tent was in a secluded place. If Banteon and Keslan were quiet, no one would know.
Normally, he wouldn’t do such a risky thing even if he wouldn’t be caught. But due to the long celibate life and the stress accumulated from recent overtime work, his body moved instinctively. He buried his face in the nape of Keslan, who was sitting on one thigh. He savored the scent of Keslan, who didn’t yet have the scent of a man, and touched Keslan’s stiff back with tension. He stroked the slightly protruding spine under his smooth touch.
Every time his hand touched, the small body bounced. The nape of the neck that quickly heated up. The thighs that trembled finely. Everything was lovely.
He wanted to hug the soft body right away and tightly hold it until his whole body turned red. He wanted to make the round eyes wet with heat and tears.
He kissed the slender fingers that trembled as they groped his arm. Black pupils flickered between the moist eyelashes.
The mind that had been wondering if this was okay briefly raised its head and evaporated in an instant. The hesitation was brief. Banteon smiled, narrowing his eyes, and brushed away the wet hair stuck to Keslan’s forehead.
“Don’t be nervous.”
“Teacher……”
A pitiful voice that seemed to cry at any moment returned. He laid Keslan’s body on the soft mattress. Light brown hair spread over the pillow, and Keslan’s upper body, which was heated red, glistened like honey. In the center, a pink chest swelled and trembled. Just as no one had touched the clean appearance. Everything was a satisfying spectacle.
He barely suppressed his slightly rising lips and caressed his lips. Enjoying the soft and moist texture, he pressed with his fingertips. A soft tongue came out from between the lips and licked Banteon’s finger lovingly.
Good boy.
He slid his wet finger down his upper body and down. As he pushed Keslan’s thighs apart with his knees, his shoulders trembled. His thighs, where heat had already gathered, were hot.
Slowly lowering his hand, he slowly brushed over the exposed underwear.
“Hmm……”
The lightly exhaled breath was lovely. Banteon’s gaze deepened. Keslan raised his arm and offered it to Banteon. He lowered his head to the white arm that wrapped around his neck and stroked his shoulder. Slowly lowering his head, he approached Keslan’s face.
As the gap between the two disappeared little by little, Banteon opened his mouth and was about to touch Keslan’s lips.
“Cut it out.”
“……!”
A nervous voice was heard from behind the two.
