World's Best Protagonist [BL]

Claude didn’t answer me. His body just turned away, watching the corpse of the trafficker twitch once before lying still.

He coldly swept the surroundings with his gaze. I frowned. Sure, he showed no signs of Awakener’s Nightmare, but I swear, if his condition suddenly worsens because of his stubbornness, I won’t cleanse him!

Rather than talk to me about what’s his problem, he keeps on avoiding and ignoring me. It’s infuriating. I was never one to reach out to anyone. If they ignore me, so what? My day will continue without them.

But this guy will die if I do that. I puffed my cheeks and watched him assess everything. He killed the only person we knew in this world. So, now we have to search for this duke whether we like it or not.

But wait, how much can we interfere without adding to the imbalance?

I nudged him with the tip of my boot and wrinkled my nose.

"I said I’ll cleanse you."

Claude stepped past me, not bothering to reprimand or comment, and crouched again at the edge of the blackened earth. Okay. What else is there to check? He’s doing a lot this time. Unnecessary things, just so I would not disturb him.

What made him think that I’d stop?

His eyes scanned the ground like it could whisper secrets if he stared long enough. I followed reluctantly. It was getting hotter the longer we lingered, like the heat had soaked into the soil and was now seeping into our bones.

I stood behind his crouched figure. My gaze landed on his wide back, and it called me. So, without wasting the opportunity, my hands raised and grabbed his shoulders from the back.

Claude flinched. I could feel his body tensing under my palms.

"What the heck are you doing?"

He slightly turned his head to me, his eye on the corner, giving me that ’if you don’t let go of me, I’ll kill you’ look.

I pretended like I didn’t notice and just shrugged my shoulders.

"Checking if your shoulders are strong enough to piggyback me."

I received the nth death glare from him. He shook my hands away, but my grip on his shoulders tightened. I began absorbing his accumulated dark energy. Because of this, the window to his emotions was opened to me, and I was tempted to peek inside.

However, before I could, he stood upright, abruptly.

"Hey!"

I almost stumbled and fell on my back if he hadn’t grabbed my arm. I grabbed him back, never letting go and continuing the counselling.

He grimaced. "I told you I don’t need it."

"And I told you I’d do it."

"You’re too reckless. Aren’t you afraid that you’ll reach that point and have to do the worst thing again?!" He yelled. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

He fucking yelled at me. I still don’t understand him. I’m certain he was referring to that time he had to help me release my contaminated energy.

"That’s why I’m doing this! Who else do you think will give you counseling in this world? There’s no one else other than me!"

I huffed. My hands are on my waist like I’m scolding a very hard-headed child. I glared at him, making him understand that I’ve already reached the limit of my patience.

"Or you’re thinking of finding Etienne as soon as possible so you can go back to Earth and ask for help from another Minder?"

That left a bitter taste in my mouth. I looked away. With his attitude, he’d rather do that than bend on me.

Ah. Shit. This is making me feel shit. I frustratedly kicked a small rock that was just by my feet, and watched it roll away.

Then, I mumbled to myself, "If you’re going to regret doing that, you shouldn’t have helped."

"Did I say I’m regretting it?"

My shoulders jumped. My head hastily spun behind, and he was there, just a foot away from me. He distanced himself from me before, so I did not expect him to be this close.

He heard me already, so I don’t see the point in denying it.

"Then, you disliked it. But let me remind you that I did not force you to do it. You’re the one who—"

"I don’t."

My mouth was left hanging open. My pupils dilated, wondering if he ever realized what he was saying. I closed my mouth and shook my head once. He must have misunderstood me. I was talking about him helping me masturbate before.

He must have thought something else.

I cleared my throat, ready to clear everything when he spoke again, his words stabbing on my head.

"I don’t regret helping you. You’re right. I was the one who instigated it, so why would I dislike it?"

I was rendered speechless. We were both referring to the same thing!

His gaze became intense, boring into mine, digging deep into my soul as if searching for something, confirming something.

"You’re the one who must have disliked it. So, I’m trying to be considerate."

Huh?

"It must have been so uncomfortable doing that with someone else. I just don’t want to put you into a situation where you have no choice but to do that. So, unless we return to the camp where Allen is, don’t touch me."

Wait, why is Allen suddenly mentioned here? And why the hell did he sound so bitter and resentful?! What the hell is going on here?

"Do you have a problem with me and Allen?" I asked carefully.

I gulped as I waited for his answer nervously. I feel like he was going to say something dumb, but that something still made me restless.

His face darkened for a bit, then he turned away. I said nothing and grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to face me again. He looked at me with unreadable eyes, lips pressed hard against each other.

"I guess I have." He took my arm off his shoulder, but he didn’t let it go. Instead, he grasped it like it was his lifeline. "I don’t like you—"

A part of the building crackled and collapsed. It was near us, so we both dropped down on the ground in case any debris flew our way. Claude covered me with his body, but my mind was still thinking of what he said.

He doesn’t like me...

Those words sting. I clutched my chest like it was a feeling I could pull out and throw away. Because if I could, I would. I hate feeling this way.

I hate that he doesn’t like me.