World's Best Protagonist [BL]

After dropping a box of nutritional supplement drinks for Freya in the Minder's Kiosk, I headed straight to the training center the following day. I suddenly felt ashamed to drop off two gallons of distilled water, so I changed my mind.

I admit I felt proud. It's the first thing I bought after receiving my allowance since I can't think of anything to buy. My clothes were sucked in the vortex, but a dozen pairs of clothes last two weeks, so I don't need to buy more. I just need to do laundry twice a month.

Also, since Claude hasn't returned, I ate everything on his fridge that might expire soon. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Should I buy something for the vice-captain too?

My relationship with Terrius became closer. Unlike before when the conversation was awkward and short, this time, we began sharing small talk. I learned a little about his personality, which helped me tread safely whenever he was around.

I still remember how he could easily freeze someone. Just thinking about it makes me shiver. Getting on his nerves will have me turn to ice.

He engaged in small talk but doesn't like talking ill about people. He does his job as quietly as possible but gets annoyed if something gets in his way or wastes his time for too long.

"You'll be a burden to your team if you keep this up. Why don't you just completely nullify everything and die?"

Sometimes, he's too honest and straightforward.

"Let me try again."

I've trained my control and achieved great results, but that was on an inanimate object. Once I try to selectively nullify an ability while allowing another to remain active, I tend to turn off everything.

If it's like this in battle, I might as well send my teammates to the death's door.

But who says I'm going to enter a vortex? I still plan to revoke my Seeker ID and work for the UAO after I have complete control of my ability.

"Ow, ow, ow! It's cold, it's cold!"

I wriggled my legs, but Terrius's ice locked me already. I sighed in frustration. Yes, me, not him. I guess my plan is still far-fetched.

Terrius gave me a silent, cold stare. I looked away, scratching my head. Without saying anything, the ice retracted and my feet were freed.

"Let me try again."

One thing he likes, is people that don't give up easily, someone that shows determination and persistence. Luckily, I'm good at faking it.

Despite the difficulty, a few days later passed and I was able to do it without any problem. It's been a week since Captain Van left, and I still haven't heard anything from him yet.

I tried asking Terrius, but he just shrugged his shoulders and didn't care about the captain at all. Another thing that bothered me the most was a memory that resurfaced in my head when I was reading in the Sanctum.

"Hi, Jade. It's been a while. How have you been?"

Lexie waved at me a few meters ahead. She stopped in her tracks and waited until I caught up. It seemed like she was heading to the training center as well.

After answering her, I asked back, "Do you have training today?"

"Nah, just got asked to help with training, that is."

"...my training?"

"Who else do you think?"

Lexie sensed my skepticism. She chuckled as she pushed the door. "The captain ordered the team to help you with training. He even mapped out your training schedule. I don't know why he did that though. He usually doesn't care about trainees, but it's different with you. Maybe he was grateful when you saved his life back then."

I doubt that's the reason.

"Finally, the newbie arrived!"

I froze after hearing that voice. Glancing to the other side of the hall, I saw the guy that had been bothering me since our last meeting.

"What's with that look? Are you asking for a fight, newbie? What, are you still mad after what I did?"

"What did you do, Noir?" Etienne asked, pulling me from my dazed state. I didn't even realize his ethereal beauty was present.

I shook my head in response to Noir and averted my eyes. I must have been staring at him because I couldn't forget that memory.

Is it just a coincidence that their names are similar?

Should I ask?

I never got bothered by these things before, but...I don't know. There's just something that urging me to find out the truth.

After regretting the way I lived, my dead curiosity came back to life and started poking me again. I don't like sticking my nose into other people's affairs, but that strange library kept messing with my head.

And if this person knew something about its existence, I shouldn't pass the opportunity to ask him. But what will I do if he reports it to the UAO? After I came out of that strange place, I heard that another team was sent to deal with the vortex, and they succeeded in closing it even before I returned.

I racked my brain too hard because of it. If the vortex closed when I was still inside, shouldn't it mean that I'm trapped inside?

I did consider reporting that strange phenomenon, but what if they finally put me behind Vibraglasses and examined me?

"Jade."

I blinked. Without knowing, I was staring at the floor for too long that everyone—Lexie, Etienne, Noir, and Terrius who had arrived without me noticing—had been looking at me with different expressions.

Etienne stepped forward with a worried look. "Jade, are you okay? The vice-captain had been calling you."

"I'm fine. Sorry, I just suddenly remembered something."

I gave Terrius an apologetic look.

"If you're not feeling good, we can cancel today's training." Terrius glared at Noir. "If you're uncomfortable with him, we'll kick him out."

"Woah, that's harsh," Noir answered with a pout. His shoulder-length blonde hair bounced as he shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I have no choice but to leave if our newbie says so. Hey, do you want me gone?"

"Don't threaten him."

"Be nice."

"I'm just asking!"

Something's weird. Are they really acting this way just because their captain ordered them to do so? I mean, our newbie? Why does it feel like I'm part of their team already? What's this foreboding feeling?

My plans are being threatened.

Terrius spoke again, "Your training will be different today. You haven't mastered controlled activation and range management, but that will improve if you keep practicing it just the way I taught you. We'll move on to physical conditioning and combat training—"

"Wait a second!" Terrius raised his brow. I gulped. He doesn't like cutting him off, so I back away a little. "I, um, meant to ask, why do I have to learn combat training? It's not like I'm going to be an active Seeker, haha."

Yeah, my laugh sounded so fucking awkward and scared. I suddenly missed the time when I didn't care about dying today or tomorrow.

Terrius walked forward. Cold sweat formed on my forehead. I inhaled deeply, preparing myself for an attack. However, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Looking sideways, Lexie smiled mysteriously.

"Is that so? Well, if that is what you planned for your future, then the NSA can't force you to work for them, right? But Jade, have you ever heard of the UAO version 2.0?"

"What...?" The hell is she talking about?

"Of course, you don't know them. Their existence is unknown to the public, and only higher ranks know about it too."

"Then, why are you saying this to me?"

Lexie's eyes gleamed dangerously. She looked the second kindest in their team, but now I felt like she was just wearing that friendly mask, and what was beneath was actually a sly, cunning woman.

"For your own safety. We call it the UAO version 2.0 because their group's initials are similar to the UAO. They are called Underworld's Awakened Overlords—a group of awakened individuals that kidnap Seekers and enslave them into committing crimes. And what can be more attractive to them than a walking nullifier? Imagine the destruction they can create if that person became their slave."

Ah. That person is me. She didn't have to speak in puzzles.

Now, it makes sense why the whole Team Alpha - 03 is so focused on me. I don't like where the conversation is going, but Lexie's words are a slap. How stupid am I to think that I'll be allowed to work a normal job when even the NMA sets its eyes on me?

Between a Minder and a Seeker, there's no need to ask which one I will choose, but I absolutely don't want to become an evil slave.