[87]
“Why. B-but. I…”
Chris had completely malfunctioned.
Yuri’s eyeballs rolled back to the front to stare at him, but his tongue was stiff and wouldn’t utter a single word.
“…But. During the Fake Guide arrest operation. Didn’t you say it was okay?”
“That situation was different from now.”
Yuri cut him off.
“The other person didn’t know who you were and met an Esper you deliberately created. It was deception from the start, and your paths wouldn’t cross again in the future.”
“…That’s.”
Yuri’s words were right.
“Let me explain more clearly.”
He wiggled his fingers.
“What I’m saying is that loving salvation itself and loving a human are fundamentally different.”
For a moment, it was difficult to understand.
Chris was someone who had loved his own salvation.
“But with that Guide from Northern Light, or Peter Garrett, it’s a different story.”
Because they know who you are.
At Yuri’s whispered words, Chris’s eyes widened.
“I don’t quite understand what you mean by knowing me.”
“Let me change the question. Do you know me?”
“Yuri is Yuri.”
“Describe me.”
“You have purple eyes and black hair. Your skin is rather pale. So sometimes your bluish veins stand out.”
“What else? Things I like or dislike?”
“You don’t smoke cigarettes, but you always collect cigars, and you like to wear monochrome clothes. You usually always wear gloves, but lately… not so much.”
“Do you know why?”
“I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
It couldn’t be because the Spring Continent was too hot. Yuri had never forgotten his gloves even when visiting the Summer Continent.
“But I know you dislike flashiness and find it unpleasant when plans get tangled.”
“Well done.”
Yuri quietly gave his praise, then asked:
“Then what does that man, January, know about you?”
“Well…”
He had used a false identity and a false name anyway.
January didn’t seem to have examined Chris deeply.
Though they had rapidly grown close due to circumstances and he had told Chris about the Fake Guide drug, that was about it.
There had been no contact from January, who had been left with Susanna Godrin, seeking Chris.
The same was true for Chris.
He had acquired some information about January in order to meet him, but he knew nothing beyond that.
Yuri’s face softened slightly at the understanding gradually spreading across Chris’s face.
With careful training, it was fortunate that he could at least understand speech.
“But the Guide from Northern Light or Peter Garrett will have opportunities to continue meeting you and getting to know you.”
“Ah.”
“In Northern Lights’ case, you’re in the same boat whether you like it or not. And Peter Garrett will continue to cooperate as long as the pursuit of Thorns Order continues.”
Though he didn’t want to think about it, considering the aftermath, it wouldn’t be strange to continue interacting with Peter Garrett for several years.
“Aren’t the things you give away without a second thought becoming lifelines for them?”
“Anyway, Luka… he only showed interest because I refused to receive guiding.”
Chris explained earnestly. However, just from Yuri’s expression, it was clear he was letting Chris’s words go in one ear and out the other.
“Mr. Peter knows our relationship well, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“…Did I raise you too gently?”
Yuri muttered as if talking to himself. When Chris responded with a “Pardon?”, he merely raised an eyebrow.
Though aware of how excellent Yuri’s hearing was, Chris kept his mouth shut. At times like this, pretending not to know was an implicit rule between them.
“I agree we need to help. The Barrel Society leaning towards their side would only benefit Thorns Order.”
Yuri added irritably.
“But you shouldn’t think about taking center stage.”
“…I understand.”
“You’re slow.”
Yuri reached out his hand. Chris approached and offered his face. The cool hand cupping his cheek slowly moved over his skin.
Guiding transmitted through the touch of bare hands without gloves gradually soaked his body.
Like dropping water drop by drop onto the surface of a desert.
‘Is it… stifling after all?’
Chris’s Adam’s apple moved slowly as if tense.
It felt like Yuri’s purple eyes would pierce right through him.
“Still… you’re the only one I’m patient with.”
At those quiet words, Chris’s tightly closed lips twitched.
Though he felt joy for a moment, it was hard to be certain if this was the right emotion.
“Why… why is that?”
Chris asked carefully. Yet thinking about how presumptuous it might sound made his heart pound.
An ambiguous gleam settled in Yuri’s gaze as he looked at him.
As if asking whether Chris could really ask such a question.
After a brief pause, the man answered:
“Because you are mine.”
Still holding his cheek, Yuri pulled his face close, stopping at a distance where their lips almost touched.
Chris looked at Yuri with a sense of regret.
Was it his imagination, or did amusement seem to appear around his eyes?
“I’ve come to cherish you beyond mere possession.”
There was nothing else to say.
Yuri wasn’t the kind of owner who would abandon a dog for not following training. If it had been something that could be broken off and cut away so easily, he wouldn’t have started in the first place.
From the moment he caught Chris, Yuri had risked his life.
At first to survive, now to survive together.
“Mmph.”
As if entranced, Chris pressed his lips against his.
If he had ended it with just a kiss, he could have excused it as an accidental bump due to their close proximity. But he didn’t want to do that at all.
In the way Yuri had taught him, he licked his lips, worked his way between them, and indulged fully in his master.
The narrowed purple eyes disappeared beneath eyelids. Encouraged by the seemingly permissive observation, Chris clung to Yuri, embracing him and continuing the kiss.
To start as if shy and at a loss, then to end so roughly.
Yuri swallowed his laughter inwardly.
Though covered in human skin, Chris’s essence was that of a beast.
He knew this fact all too well.
In those blue eyes, distorted as if drunk, instinct occupied a larger portion than reason.
If left alone, he would never stop of his own accord.
“Chris.”
Between the hastily overlapping lips, Yuri called his name. His back flinched, and the weight bearing down on Yuri slowly retreated.
Blue eyes tinged more with bewilderment than dissatisfaction came into view.
He looked anxious and restless, not knowing what to do. Even a mischievous puppy that had chewed up all the furniture would appear more dignified.
Yuri’s hand gently caressed Chris’s earlobe and whispered:
“You’ll be uncomfortable here.”
***
In an open space on the ground, people who could still move about were unloading soot-stained baggage.
Some sat down in a daze. Cries for doctors could be heard.
Peter quickly passed by them and headed toward a tent further inside.
It was where the children had been gathered.
“Is Gianni here?”
The Barrel Society agent guarding the front saw Peter and slowly nodded.
“I came for a brief interview.”
“It’s problematic because her parents haven’t arrived yet.”
The current incident probably hadn’t even been communicated to Gianni’s parents yet.
The already insufficient personnel were focused on cleaning up the scene and treating the injured.
Some were estimating the extent of the damage.
“She was the first child I rescued, so I’m concerned about her condition. I got permission from the higher-ups as well.”
“…If that’s the case. Just for a moment.”
“Peter, I’m letting you in because it’s you.”
Peter walked inside.
Among the children huddled together, some seemed to have fallen asleep after crying. Only Gianni was curled up in the corner of the tent, hugging her knees.
Peter checked on Andy and the other children one by one.
Seeing that everyone was safe gave him peace of mind.
“Gianni. Can we talk for a moment?”
The child, who had been watching cautiously since Peter entered, slowly nodded.
“Do you remember calling me earlier? Before the bang sound.”
“…Yes.”
“May I ask why you called me, and why you said to return Andy and the other children?”
When this bomb terror occurred, if Peter had been in the center of the flea market, even he would have been seriously injured.
But he would have identified the bomb’s location and opened a door to remove it, so there would have been less damage than now.
It was clear that whoever was behind this knew Peter’s ability and deliberately removed him from the scene.
‘But why?’
“I was playing with the kids… Everyone said we shouldn’t be disturbed.”
Gianni hesitantly opened her mouth.
Peter listened quietly.
He had detained Joaquin separately and came to find out why Gianni had called him at that particular time.
“Then a strange man came. He was as tall as Brother Peter…”
“Do you remember his hair color or eye color? What he looked like?”
Peter found himself pressing for details.
“I-I don’t know.”
The child shook her head. Noticing her tension, Peter backed away.
“I’m sorry, Gianni. I got too excited.”
Gianni shook her head vigorously.
“I want to tell you everything.”
The young girl moved her lips tentatively.
Even at such a young age, she had intuitively sensed that the adult who appeared in such an urgent situation had made a very suspicious request.
Perhaps even that the two incidents might be connected.
“That m-mister said we were playing hide and seek…”
Gianni hiccupped.
“He said brother Peter was hiding too well and he couldn’t find you.”
The face of the child, who eventually burst into tears, was grimy with soot.
“There, there.”
Peter wiped Gianni’s face with a handkerchief.
“And then?”
“He said he wanted to play with us.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
