Chapter 347: The maniac with the sunglasses [2]

Clank—!

The door closed behind the two of us as a subtle silence lingered in the corridor of the hospital we were in. The silence persisted until Joanna spoke.

"I’d like to first apologize for what happened at the gate. Everyone was quite emotional due to Sarah’s supposed death. None of them really meant to treat you that way."

"....."

Listening to her words, I didn’t know how to reply.

I’d had a small inkling this would be the topic of conversation, but it still surprised me that she actually said it.

"Everyone cares for Sarah, and—"

"Did they tell you to say this?"

I cut Joanna off, turning my head subtly to see several eyes peeking from the door. The moment my eyes fell on them, their eyes widened, and the door closed.

’Shit! D-do you think he saw us?’

’Yes, very likely. That fat head of yours probably gave us away.’

’Nnn!?’

I tried my best to ignore the muffled voices coming from behind the door as Joanna’s face twitched repeatedly, trying her best to keep herself steady. In the end, all she could do was nod with slumped shoulders.

"Yes."

"...I see."

I could more or less tell. I wasn’t blind. I saw each of them going to Joanna to speak to her from time to time, while giving me strange glimpses. I didn’t know when, but after some point, Joanna had become some sort of advocate for the group.

’Well, it’s nice that they are doing this. I guess I should also apologize.’

Opening my mouth, I was just about to do that when I stopped.

A certain thought occurred to me as I closed my eyes and sighed.

"What? Is there something wrong...?"

Misunderstanding my actions, Joanna grew slightly flustered. But none of it was her fault. The way I was acting had nothing to do with her. It was because of something else entirely.

’Yeah, I should take this chance to come clean.’

Lifting my head to stare at Joanna, I lifted my arm and pointed it right at my temple. Or more specifically, where one of my nodes was.

"You see... I’m not much different than Sarah."

"Huh?"

At first, Joanna tilted her head in confusion, mumbling things like, ’Not different from Sarah? What do you mean? That doesn’t...’

"Wait..."

Her eyes went wide as the realization sank in, her lips slowly parting in shock.

"Wait, wait, wait... Don’t tell me that..."

"Yes."

I nodded, tapping on my temple.

"I also have a fracture on my node."

Joanna’s eyes widened further, the noise behind me fading completely.

I could see that the others had been listening, and the revelation had left them all speechless. I could also see why they’d all be shocked.

After all, this was something that even the Guild didn’t know.

This was the first time I was revealing this.

"That is why I don’t use my powers. It’s also the reason why I acted the way that I did during Sarah’s moment. It wasn’t because I didn’t feel anything, but it’s because I wasn’t capable of feeling anything."

".....!"

As expected, Joanna reeled in complete shock, her eyes and mouth opening so wide it seemed they might tear from her face. From behind me came muffled sounds, the others failing to conceal their own astonishment.

I took in their reactions.

This was something I had been mulling over for quite some time. Whether to reveal or not the fact that I had powers.

’Logically speaking, this isn’t the smartest of moves. There’s a chance that I might get outed as the Jester if that happens, and that might directly cause me to die as a result...’

However, it also became clear to me that I couldn’t keep acting without showing my powers. This was the perfect example.

If not for the Conductor, Mirelle, and the Dreamwalker, I would’ve never have been able to come out on top. But that wasn’t all. If I had a node, I’d at least be able to be more open about my desire to acquire fragments and the like.

While I hadn’t intended to reveal the full extent of my powers, I at least planned to reach a starting point.

’That being said, I need to find a way to make my nodes more noticeable.’

The system clearly had some way of concealing my nodes. With my plan to act more openly, I needed that function disabled... At least to some extent. My goal was to reveal a single node and go along with the story that I had failed my first awakening.

It was this thought process that made me go through with the sudden reveal.

’For the sake of my future, I have no choice but to go with this.’

"....."

What followed was a slow and tense silence.

And then—

Clank!

The door burst open, figures rushing out all at once. Some had tears in their eyes, others wore expressions of regret. I was just about to open my mouth to tell them it was all fine when...

"Ukh...!!"

A large hand latched onto me.

It was Min. Although he didn’t say anything, he kept me rooted in place as his stoic face trembled.

"S... sorry."

"Waaah!" A shrill cry followed from behind Min. "S-squad Leader! I didn’t know... I’m so sorry! You did so much for us, and yet...! Yet...!"

"No, wait... You’re getting your snot on my shirt!"

"Waaaaaaah!"

Mia latched onto my body. Despite her small frame, she was really strong. I was starting to feel suffocated.

"Okay, I get your message. Please get—"

"...I’m also sorry."

Niel spoke, lifting his glasses as his hands also latched onto me.

"I didn’t know."

No, seriously...

I turned my attention towards Nora, who had her lips pursed, her eyes falling to the floor, and then to me. I quickly mouthed to her, ’Help me out.’

Nora’s face stiffened for a moment, her gaze falling on the numerous people latched onto me. And just as I thought she was going to help me...

A smile suddenly manifested on her face.

"Sniff..."

"...."

"Sniff. Sniff."

She walked ahead, opening her arms.

"...S-squad Leader!"

The weight pressed on me suddenly increased.

"I... am also sorry!"

This bitch!

In the end, the only thing I could do was turn my attention towards Joanna. As the most sensible one, she could def—

"What are you doing?"

I looked at the last person who had joined the group, my heart freezing with coldness.

"Team bonding, Squad Leader. Team bonding."

"Like Mia said, you do a lot for us. It’s time we repay that favor."

"Repay me by getting them off of me."

"But where would be the fun in that?"

"No, what fun? Why am I the one suffering when you’re trying to repay that ’favor’."

"Tough luck."

Just as she said this, she made sure to squeeze tightly, forcing the air out of my lungs.

"....?!"

Despite her thin figure, she had a lot of strength. Felt like I was getting squeezed into a pulp.

"Thank you for everything that you do for us, Squad Leader."

My ears tingled as Joana whispered from my right.

"We love and appreciate everything that you do for us."

Added Nora from the left.

Damn it. Just wait until I get out of this...

"No, but seriously, Squad Leader. We really are thankful for what you do for us."

"Yeah, besides everything else that Mia said, we all are very grateful for you."

"Is that so?"

So why aren’t you letting go?

"Yeah, we’re very grateful for you."

"Okay, okay. If you really are grateful, stop whispering in my ears."

I could feel their breath in my ears, and I couldn’t stop getting shivers.

Fucking chills.

Once again trying to peel Mia off of me, I suddenly stopped. Scanning the faces of everyone surrounding me, I noticed that despite all the teasing, their expressions revealed genuine sincerity in every word they uttered.

Their smiles were nothing like the fake smiles that I was used to seeing. They were smiles of genuine appreciation and hope for the future that was to come.

I didn’t have it in me to get them off of me.

Ha. I guess there was nothing wrong with me sacrificing my body to comfort them.

At that, I lowered my hand and let them continue hugging me from all sides.

For what was to come, this little sacrifice was nothing.

You could say that I, too, held some expectations for the future that was to come.

***

"What the fuck am I seeing?"

Not far from the group, a certain duo stood watching from a distance. Kyle’s mouth hung open as he took in the sight of Seth struggling under the group’s assault. To him, it was almost amusing.

He didn’t manage to get a glimpse of what happened that led to this moment, but whatever it was, he found it incredibly amusing.

"Kek... What the hell happened over there for everyone to latch onto Seth lik—"

Kyle’s words faltered as his gaze shifted to Zoey, noticing her expression was unlike her usual one as she stared at Seth in the distance. Unlike him, she had been peeking at them way earlier.

Did she perhaps hear the conversation...?

Blinking in confusion, the only thing Kyle managed to catch from her lips was a faint whisper, ’

Did... I misunderstand him back then? Did he...’

Kyle’s expression turned even stranger as he looked at her.

"Are you okay?"

"...Hm?"

Snapping out of it, Zoey looked at Kyle. Her lips parted a moment later.

"Yes... I’m fine. I just..."

She paused, turning her attention back towards the distant group.

"No, never mind. I was just a little taken aback by what was happening. I’m also tired from everything."

"Right..."

That made sense.

"Let’s go report to the Section Chief then. The faster we get this done, the faster we can rest."

"You’re right."

The two turned away from the scene, going in the opposite direction.

At the same time—

"Erkh! E-enough... I really can’t breathe anymore."