The Way to Love in the Place of Dead Chapter 11

“Good day, Mr. Aran. And Kay.”

The honorifics attached to the end of their names were subtly different.

“Thank you for providing assistance on the battlefield despite the communication error.”

“I’m starting to wonder if it really was an ‘error,’ though.”

The man who had responded to Aran’s smile with one of his own approached Kay and held out the bag he was carrying.

“This is the standard-issue uniform and daily necessities provided to all recruits. A-rank and above typically require custom fabrication, but since your induction was delayed and there are no available designers at the moment, we’ve prepared the basic model for you.”

But Kay did not take the items. He stood where he was and looked at Aran.

“Take it. You’ll need it to wage war.”

“Clothes?”

“They’re fairly comfortable. And they have other uses, too.”

Left with no choice, Kay took the bag. Jin bowed politely at the waist.

“Congratulations, Kay. From today onward, you will officially live as a citizen of Limpus and as a soldier.”

It was an impeccably courteous greeting, yet for some reason Kay found his smile unsettling. Just as he was trying to identify the source of this unease—different from what he felt around Aran—Aran cut in.

“I doubt the Vice Director of the Center came all this way just to deliver that… What’s your business, Jin?”

“I was concerned.”

“Concerned?”

After handing over the bag, Jin gestured politely toward Kay with his empty hand.

“Because he’s an S-rank. Even if other matters can be set aside as exceptions, the committee’s opinion is that he must, at the very least, undergo the stabilization verification.”

“As for the rampage risk, I believe that’s already been discussed.”

“But unless there’s an imprint bond, the Center believes at least a minimal verification procedure is necessary.”

“Then I’ll do it.”

Aran turned to approach, but Jin stepped between them.

“The committee wants confirmation from a third party they can trust.”

“You’re saying you can’t trust me?”

“Wouldn’t the answer present itself if you reflected on your own conduct?”

The two were demonstrating firsthand that pretty words didn’t necessarily mean pretty content, and that smiling didn’t necessarily mean a pleasant mood. Kay, who had been listening quietly, asked nonchalantly,

“In short, you just want to check whether my wavelength is stable.”

“Yes, that’s correct. For your reference, I am a guide specialized in that area, so it won’t take long—”

“And if I refuse?”

A fine crack appeared on Jin’s face, which had remained perfectly composed until then.

“In the three years you spent searching for me, I never once heard anything like that. Why should I have to submit to a test now?”

“It is less a test than a simple confirmation. All it takes is a single handshake with me.”

“I understood that. And I said I refuse.”

“…”

“You asked, so answer. What will you do if I say no?”

Kay snapped the words at him, watching his rigidly unwavering smile as he waited for an answer.

“You didn’t explain it to him, did you?”

He turned his gaze to Aran as if surprised.

“That won’t do. Unless the terms of a deal are clearly communicated.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Nonsense?”

Jin smiled even more brightly than before, as if amused.

“Is it nonsense that Aran Rapperd brought Willamere’s esper here in exchange for his own life?”

Even with such an explicit explanation, Kay couldn’t grasp it right away. The statement was that preposterous.

“What the hell is he talking about?”

“What you did was, in fact, a three-party deal.”

Again, the answer came from Jin.

“You came here through a deal with Mr. Aran, and Mr. Aran made a deal with the Center to bring you here.”

“…Why?”

“Because you’re a dangerous element.”

From the Center’s perspective, it was only natural. They had failed at persuasion, torture, and even brainwashing. Expecting loyalty from the S-rank standing before them was impossible, and just as no one lets a beast without a leash roam free in their yard, they needed leverage over Kay.

“Mr. Aran did not share the conditions under which he brought you here, so we required an appropriate price in return. That price was Mr. Aran staking his life.”

Kay couldn’t comprehend it. Not just Aran, who had staked his life and said nothing, but also the man speaking about it so lightly.

“In other words. It doesn’t matter to us in the slightest even if Kay refuses the wavelength examination. Should there be any disobedience to the Center’s orders or any harm caused, the corresponding punishment will simply fall on Mr. Aran.”

“Don’t let it bother you. They can’t harm me anyway.”

“The Center’s greatest strength lies in the fact that it possesses large numbers of espers and guides. When it comes to methods of inflicting pain without taking a life, we have them in abundance.”

Again, Jin refuted him, narrowing his eyes into a smile as if genuinely enjoying himself.

“Of course. Though I expect Mr. Aran knows all this already.”

In the end, everything he said was meant for him to hear.

“What will you do, Kay? I’ll leave it to your choice.”

Though the answer was already decided, at that pointed question, Kay extended his hand.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

A lukewarm heat transferred from where their hands met.

The wavelength that crept beneath his skin and spread inside his body made his blinking quicken. The tepid hand, as lukewarm as its temperature, spread as if scanning from muscle to internal organs, making his insides churn.

A discomfort slithered through him—like an itch, yet also like something sticky clinging all the way down his throat, blocking his airway. The compatibility between espers and guides varied wildly: if well-matched, it brought a pleasure so intense it made the whole body tingle; if poorly matched, it could cause revulsion and nausea. The sensation transmitted from Jin was, if anything, the latter.

The displeasure burrowed into his bones, and at some point, with nausea rising—

“That’s enough.”

Their hands separated.

“Hah.”

As he let out a large exhale, oxygen, which had grown scarce, rushed back in, and his vision returned.

He had unknowingly stepped backward and then—thud—what he bumped into was Aran, who had caught him as he staggered. Thanks to that, he quickly regained his bearings and straightened up.

But while he was recovering his composure, Jin had been staring down at his own hand the entire time.

Just as Kay wondered, ‘Is there some kind of problem?’, Jin smiled as if nothing had happened.

“Thank you for your cooperation. …There are no issues.”

The subtle pause between his words bothered him for some reason, but Jin continued as if nothing had happened.

“And Mr. Aran.”

“What.”

“A deployment request has come in from Sector H.”

“I know. I’ll be there shortly.”

Aran answered indifferently and headed toward the outside of the building.

“How long will you need?”

Aran’s expression was as impassive as Jin’s mild question. Yet within that blank expression, the flicker of displeasure was, to Kay, remarkably and vividly visible.

“Thirty minutes.”

“I’ll give you twenty. That should be fine, right?”

“Jin.”

The automatic door opened, and Aran, now beyond the threshold, turned back to warn him.

“Stop pushing your luck.”

Even at those words laced with killing intent, Jin, visible through the closing door, was smiling brightly, as if delighted.

Thud. With the steel door shut, Aran, his back to it, muttered.

“Insufferable bastard, honestly.”

“Let’s go,” he said and began descending, but Kay called him to a halt.

“Why did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Stake your life like that.”

“You heard it just as it was.”

For an esper from Willamere to live in Limpus, complex administrative procedures were necessary. Normally, the Center handled it, but since Kay had come here through a deal with him, the price also had to be paid by Aran himself. That was only fair.

“The Center wanted a leash on your life. So if I was going to make a deal, I had to put up something of at least equal value.”

“So you staked your own life?”

“Yes. But as I said, it’s not something you need to worry about.”

“How am I supposed to not worry when you staked your life on my behalf?”

Aran retraced his steps back to stand in front of Kay, then asked with a subtle smile.

“You’re worried about me?”

The unexpected words left his mind momentarily blank.

“It’s fine. I’m one of only two S-rank multies on this continent, and even if the Center wanted to threaten me, they can’t.”