The SSS-rank Guide Doesn't Need Saving

THUD!

The sound of Theon falling down the flight of stairs and his groan echoed in her ears.

Aisha looked on as he twisted and held his leg, like she did when she broke her arm. And just like how he walked and turned away from her when she called him for help, Aisha continued her steps upstairs and strode down the hallway.

However, she hadn’t even crossed half of it when she stopped.

Irene stood there. A hand flew to cover her mouth in shock as she had witnessed what Aisha did just now.

When Aisha took a step forward to resume walking, Irene couldn’t stop herself from backing away.

”S-stay away!” Irene exclaimed.

But Aisha did not stop.

Irene continued taking a few steps away from her.

She honestly couldn’t understand why she felt this way towards Aisha. As an S-ranked Guide, there shouldn’t be any need to feel fear towards a mere D-rank. So, why was it that she couldn’t even bring herself to look Aisha in the eye?

Previously, Irene rejoiced when she learned Aisha was not her real sister. She thought she could make her pay for doing that to her neck. Even if Zenick were to defend and cover up Aisha, he should no longer side with an outsider. In the future, he would only support her and her alone.

So, Irene couldn’t wait to see the defeated look on Aisha’s face.

When she heard voices coming from the stairs, Irene hurriedly came out of her bedroom to catch Theon admonishing Aisha and throwing her out of the house. She no longer has any right to return and should never be allowed to set foot in their house!

But the turn of events was completely out of her expectations.

Aisha had pushed Theon down the stairs.

And what shocked Irene was why Theon let it happen? Irene didn’t believe that Theon wouldn’t be able to stop his descent before he could get hurt. A single push from a weak and fragile D-rank shouldn’t have been able to do any harm to him.

Was that why she felt afraid of her?

Irene didn’t think it was the only reason. Not when she couldn’t bring herself to move when Aisha reached her. What she felt as Aisha got closer was akin to a monster closing in on her.

”A—Aisha...”

She tried to lift her eyes to meet Aisha’s, but her body refused to listen to her command.

”Say it, I’m listening.”

Aisha patiently stopped in front of Irene.

Irene opened her mouth and heard her teeth chattering.

Feeling humiliated at showing fear in front of Aisha, Irene forced herself to look up and instinctively swallowed upon seeing the emptiness in the beautiful guide’s eyes in front of her. After a long pause, she managed to broach a word.

But before that, a glint appeared in Irene’s eyes as she lifted a hand to touch Aisha.

Pat.

Her hand successfully made contact with Aisha. Curling her lips into a triumphant smile, Irene looked into her eyes and said, ”Kneel before me.”

The instant those words fell, the surroundings turned cold.

Irene had previously used up all the times she could use her manipulation ability on a person. Back then, she even bled from all her orifices. However, after her neck was broken and she was quickly treated, her mother, who had been worried about her, had given her a pure energy stone.

Getting her hands on that stone, Irene didn’t spare a moment to hesitate and decided to absorb the energy inside the stone. As a result, she was able to slightly recover her ability. Now, she could manipulate two more people!

Now that she had a chance to use it twice, Irene did not feel it was too much of a waste to use it on Aisha.

Earlier, she had been so afraid. But if Aisha knelt before her, Irene knew she would feel much better and no longer fear her once she got to look down on her and step on her dignity.

Just imagining Aisha kneeling before her had made all the gloominess that happened at the ceremony fly away.

”You must not have known.”

However, the thing she had wanted to happen didn’t.

”... Aisha.”

”Your ability won’t work on me.”

”What?” Irene stared in disbelief.

Aisha softly laughed, her voice ringing like a bell.

”That’s... that’s impossible!”

Irene reeled back, but her hand was caught by Aisha, who didn’t allow her to step away. Terror quickly climbed up her throat as she couldn’t think of anything else but to use the last of her ability on Aisha again.

”Le—let go of me!”

But Aisha’s grip on her was like it was made of steel. Her cold eyes were like a viper staring into a mouse trapped in its lair.

Aisha lifted her hand and pressed it against Irene’s eyes, covering them, and finally, she did something that no one could ever believe she could’ve done.

Then she whispered softly so that only Irene could hear it. ”You will loathe your family and feel the pain Aisha felt.”

She uncovered Irene’s eyes and stared coldly.

Half a beat later, Irene started to cry and tremble. But that wasn’t all. The young high-ranked guide fell on her knees as she scratched her nails against the floor.

”... Hate...”

”I hate you...”

”I wish you all were dead!”

”AH!”

Her loathsome words were replaced by the sound of painful moans as Irene started beating her hands against her chest and head.

”Ahh... why does it hurt? My heart feels like it’s been sliced in half.”

”Someone, save me. Help me... My head is exploding. My body is hurting!”

”Why are you so cold to me? What did I ever do? My heart hurts so much!”

Irene kept rambling on and on. The emotions she felt contradicted each other because what Irene felt wasn’t only the hatred towards the family she dearly took away from Aisha, but also the desperation Aisha felt for the affection of her family that slowly turned into agonizing pain.

What hurts more than physical pain?

Naturally, it was the sickness of the heart and mind. An invisible pain no medicine could ever cure.

Irene had been the cause of all of that pain. Now, Aisha was returning it to her, giving her a taste of what she had gone through because Irene would not leave her alone!

Aisha stared down at Irene for a long time. She wanted the lingering emotions within her that were left behind by Aisha Novalis to feel satisfied with what she had done.

Then, she started to walk toward her bedroom without looking back.