Free Web NovelChapter 12: A request made by Electhra
Hae-neul and Gerhman passed through the exit portal and found Seoul’s usual air again. The sky was overcast and a light breeze blew across the parking lot. They got back into the vehicle without a word. Hae-neul drove carefully, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. Gerhman stared straight ahead, his face neutral.
They arrived quickly at the headquarters of the Aegis Prime guild, a structure whose architecture defied the laws of modern physics. The imposing building stood proudly in the center of the district, dominating the surrounding skyscrapers with its massive stature made of reinforced glass and enchanted steel. Once inside, Hae-neul guided Gerhman to Electhra’s office. Despite her athletic physique and impressive musculature, she felt strangely small next to this man. They reached the top floor, crossed the hallway, arrived at the entrance, she opened the door and let Gerhman pass.
Electhra was seated behind her desk, reading a set of documents. She wore a perfectly fitted dark suit that highlighted her elegant and voluptuous figure, while her long deep violet hair was tied in a strict bun. Her eyes rose toward them.
"Already back?" she said in a calm voice, a slight smile appearing on her lips.
Gerhman did not bother with unnecessary pleasantries. He advanced with disarming nonchalance, then dropped heavily into the armchair facing her. With a movement, he removed his Awakened card from his pocket and tossed it toward Electhra. She caught it with one hand, without taking her eyes off him. Hae-neul, who had entered after him, remained standing a little behind, observing the scene with a complex expression.
"Hmm... Rank D" murmured Electhra while examining the plastic rectangle containing Gerhman’s new data.
"Given my current state, I am surprised" said Gerhman, his voice carrying a hint of bitter irony.
He knew that for his former self, this rank was an insult, proof of his weakness. Yet, for a newly awakened person, reaching Rank D right after the tutorial was a notable achievement for humans.
"Now that you are officially an awakened, what do you plan to do?" asked Electhra, tilting her head slightly.
"Not much" replied Gerhman with obvious disinterest. "As I told you, my priority is to increase my level and stabilize my soul."
He paused, staring thoughtfully at the palm of his right hand before clenching it into a powerful fist. Although I absorbed the monsters’ energy, it only delayed the collapse of my soul, he thought, remembering the need to find a way to solve this problem, otherwise he risked being unable to take his revenge.
"I see" nodded Electhra, understanding that. "In that case, if you need anything, let me know."
She was ready to put all of Aegis Prime guild’s resources at his disposal, without any hesitation.
"Something..." murmured Gerhman, seeming to seriously consider a request. "Ahhh..." he suddenly exclaimed as he turned toward Hae-neul. "If possible, I would like her to stay by my side for a while."
Electhra slowly turned her head to look at Hae-neul. The vice-guild master, surprised by this sudden attention, did not immediately understand the meaning of what Gerhman had just declared. She remained frozen, her red eyes blinking in astonishment.
"That’s fine" agreed Electhra without a second thought, her loyalty to her master overriding any other consideration. "You can keep her as long as you want" she finished with a smile that this time carried a hint of mischief.
"What..." shouted Hae-neul, finally understanding that she had just been handed over like a simple assistant, or worse, a toy. "W-wait!"
Her natural shyness resurfaced, breaking her aggressive facade. She felt overwhelmed by the situation, her cheeks taking on a shade almost as vivid as her hair.
"What?" replied Electhra, her tone suddenly disappointed. "You are not going to refuse a request from me, are you?"
"I-it’s not that" answered Hae-neul with a pout, her shoulders slumping under the weight of Electhra’s request. "It’s just that..."
She did not finish her sentence, casting a look full of uncertainty and silent reproach at Gerhman. She did not feel up to handling this man on a daily basis. Finally, she let out a long sigh of resignation.
"Fine."
"Well... since we are done, I will leave right away" said Gerhman, standing up abruptly as if he had already exhausted all interest in the conversation.
"Huh!!" Electhra seemed genuinely surprised by this sudden desire to leave. "Where are you going?" she asked, a hint of worry piercing her voice.
"I’m going for a walk" replied Gerhman as he was already heading toward the exit, his hands buried in his pockets.
"Take care of yourself" said Electhra in a soft, almost pleading voice.
Gerhman did not answer, simply making a dismissive wave with his hand over his shoulder. He opened the door and left, leaving the two women alone in the sudden silence of the office. As calm returned to the room, Electhra suddenly spoke without taking her eyes off the closed door.
"So, what did you think of him?"
"Ahhh..." Hae-neul let out a deep sigh, rubbing her temples as if to chase away an emerging headache.
She went to sit wearily where Gerhman had been a few minutes earlier. The residual warmth of the chair still seemed to permeate her buttocks.
"I don’t really know what to say..." she admitted.
"Then say what is on your mind, Hae-neul" replied Electhra, resting her head on the palm of her hand placed on the desk.
"How to put it..." began Hae-neul, searching for words so as not to offend her superior. "He’s a kind of arrogant who thinks he is above the whole world" she confessed at the end.
"Ahahah..." Electhra burst into a crystalline laugh, genuinely amused by her subordinate’s frankness.
She found nothing wrong with that observation; after all, Gerhman was above the world, or at least he had been and intended to become so again.
"What?" asked Hae-neul, looking displeased to see her feelings mocked like this.
"No, nothing" replied Electhra, her eyes still shining with amusement. "You will have to get used to it. He may not seem like it with his cold manners, but he is a good person."
Hae-neul remained skeptical, but she did not contradict the one she admired above all.
"Do me a favor, Hae-neul" continued Electhra, her tone changing to become more solemn.
"What is it? I will do anything for you, you know that" replied Hae-neul immediately, her loyalty shining in her red eyes.
"Take care of the Master for me" replied Electhra. freёweɓnovel.com
She then displayed a smile that was both delighted and filled with deep sadness, that of a servant who knows she cannot always be by his side. Upon hearing this, Hae-neul wanted to refuse. She was absolutely not comfortable in Gerhman’s company. However, seeing the unusual vulnerability on Electhra’s face, she did not have the courage to decline the request.
"I will do my best" she finally accepted with a resolute nod.
"Good" said Electhra, instantly regaining her guild master posture. "You can go now, I have work to finish."
"Okay" replied Hae-neul.
She stood up and headed toward the exit with the firm intention of catching up with the one who was now her responsibility.
