[BL]The Hero and his Party Won't Let Me Go

Kaiden was not lying when he told Shuu that he would pay the breaching fee for him. In fact, he was ready to pay a lot more than the breaching fee if it meant that he would get Shuu back by his side.

But Shuu just chuckled and patted Kaiden on the back. His expression told Kaiden that he had no intention of coming back anytime soon.

"I am sure you want me back soon as well, Kaiden. But I have obligations to fulfil. I don’t want to break a contract if I can simply fulfil it. Or do you have to go back now, and that’s why you cannot wait for me? If so, then I will understand-"

"No, that’s not the case... Alright, fine! I can wait for you for three months. But I want to have a talk with your boss before I send you back. There is no way I am going to send you back without taking any safety precautions."

Kaiden complained as he held his temper back. He would have complained even more and dragged Shuu back by force, but he could tell that it was not what Shuu wanted from him.

Even Shuu did not know why he was feeling so strongly about this, but what he did know was that he did not want to go back with things unresolved between him and the people who had helped him.

He felt gratitude toward the people from the survivor’s guild, and he wanted to repay them.

"Alright. I can introduce you to Boss Yuri, and I think you already met Secretary Ann. Just make sure you do not let it slip that I am a guide."

Kaiden made an irritated face at Shuu’s reminder.

"You don’t have to remind me. I have no intention of letting other people get close to my guide anyway."

Kaiden sounded certain, so Shuu just chuckled...before being reminded that Caelis and Rin were in the room with the pair as well.

The kids had been quiet until now, but their eyes were shining as they looked at the two adults in front of them.

Finally, Caelis spoke up, and he sounded a little upset.

"Are you going to go back to that unworthy place, Shuu? Why can’t you and Rin stay with us? There is no need for you to leave."

The kid started saying the same thing Kaiden had said some time ago, and it took a lot longer for Shuu to calm him down. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

__________

The tension in the room was so thick that it could be cut with a knife. Everyone looked at each other and then at the esper sitting at the head of the table.

Kaiden’s presence made everyone nervous. There was something dangerous about it that made even an S-class esper like Yuri nervous.

He felt like he was sitting in front of a monster who could devour him any second. His instincts were telling him that he needed to run away as soon as possible.

And yet, he remained seated and kept his eyes on the front of the table where the monster was sitting.

Secretary Ann looked just as worried as Yuri felt. But unlike Yuri, who was worried and feared the esper, Secretary Ann looked like he was enchanted by the beauty of this mysterious creature and could not help but gasp.

Those wide eyes of the secretary made something inside Yuri feel hollow, and he felt like he was losing something important. So he quickly coughed to get the attention of everyone back on him.

Even Secretary Ann looked at him, and Yuri started the talks in hopes of gaining the upper ground here.

"So, why have you called us here, Esper Kaiden? As far as I know, you are the leader of a newly established guild, which is only able to thrive because of the association’s support. Do you think you have what it takes to command someone like me around?"

Secretary Ann nodded while standing behind Yuri. They were both keeping an eye on Kaiden, but the esper refused to look nervous.

If anything, he looked even more comfortable, and his eyes had that predatory look to them that made the room feel hotter and colder at the same time.

"I am not here to pressure you. I just wanted to inform you that I am lending Shuu to you for the duration of his contract. I would ideally like to not allow you this opportunity, but this is what he wants since he is grateful to you. I simply called this meeting to warn you-don’t try and take advantage of this situation, alright?"

Kaiden was not even trying to be subtle about telling the other person to not make a move on Shuu, and his words came across as just that-a threat to the other side.

"Do you think you have any right-"

Yuri raised his hand before Secretary Ann could get himself in trouble.

As an A-class guide, Secretary Ann was used to talking to other espers freely and having them bend to his will. He likely thought that Kaiden would be the same.

After all, no sane esper would like to make an A-class guide their enemy and risk not getting any guiding.

But Kaiden...gave off a feeling that he did not care. There had never even been a rumor of him having met a guide for guiding, and there were even rumors that he simply did not need guiding in order to use his powers.

He was an anomaly- and a dangerous one.

"I understand. Since you have made yourself clear, I will promise you that we will take care of Shuu. But I would like to secure your help on some high-class dungeon raids as well if we need them. Do we have a deal?"

It was a losing deal for the S-class esper, but this was better than nothing. If he went back empty-handed, then he would become someone other people laughed at.

So, even if it cost him a loss, Yuri could not back down now.