World's Best Protagonist [BL]

The hands I feared that would decide whether I lose my dignity now or never, was brought on his lips. A sardonic laughter echoed within the four corners of the room afterward. His eyes crinkled until they disappeared.

Sometimes, people laugh when they can’t accept the truth. Noir is an example.

"You think I’d believe that?"

"I did. But looking at you now, I guess thinking like that’s too much."

"Anyone that heard you would have the same reaction as me." He crossed his legs again, his hands clasped together cupping his knees. "Your story just doesn’t make sense. In many ways. A vortex filled only with books—could be possible. But how did you get in? How did you get out? How is it that the UAO did not receive any alarm about another vortex appearing? There’s just so many loopholes, newbie."

I sighed. I know.

"Release me and I will fill those holes one by one."

Noir fixed his eyes on me, contemplating what to do. Why is he hesitating? He’s much stronger than I am, so even if my limbs are free, I don’t think I’d try to escape.

"Fine."

He picked up the knife he threw and started cutting the ropes. I never felt this liberated before, thank goodness. I paused, staring at my right arm. The cast was gone, and there was no trace of the injury. It was perfectly fine. No wonder it didn’t cross my mind the whole time I was tied.

But this kind of quick recovery...there’s only one person I know who can do it. Did Etienne...?

"Give me something to drink, please," I begged, erasing the thought in my head. Noir must have tricked him into healing me.

"After you patch up the holes. Now speak."

This selfish scumbag.

My throat was a bit dry, but I didn’t insist. Stretching my arms and legs, I began telling him what I knew despite the consequences I might face soon. Well, it’s better than becoming someone’s doll.

It’s just sad that I’m not going to be able to live in my new home, but might be behind bars or vibraglass instead. I’d rather choose the bars though.

Noir was silent after I told him what happened. He seemed lost in his thoughts, looking down the floor. I furtively glanced behind him, at the closed door. If I take advantage of his dazed state, will I be able to escape successfully?

Lifting my butt to execute my plan, I froze midway when he turned to me again, sporting a serious look on his face.

"Who else did you tell about this?"

"...just you."

He gave me a skeptical look.

I explained further. "I’m afraid of what the consequences are if I reported it to the UAO. It was only after a few days that I found out that the same vortex that appeared in my house was conquered and closed, even before I returned. But if I was able to exit, that meant the vortex appeared again, but I didn’t hear anything from the UAO."

"You said it disappeared after you came out."

"That’s just what I think. I actually did not see the vortex when I came out. I just woke up on the floor."

"Then, there’s a chance what spewed you out isn’t a vortex," Noir remarked.

I once thought that way, but aside from a vortex that connects Earth to those strange monster-infested places, what else could it be?

"If it was, the UAO should have been able to detect it. Satellites are specially designed to detect and locate even the slightest disturbance in the Earth’s energy fields. They can detect warping in local space-time or measure high-energy particle activity indicating a potential rift."

I’m aware of that. I read every magazine, book, article, or anything that can be read about the changes in Earth when the disaster happened. Perhaps, my brain just couldn’t accept the possibility since it’s an existence that even the awakened organization doesn’t know of.

And at the back of my head, no matter how much I denied it, was a lingering fear that I had something to do with that strange library. How much did I rack my head pondering the reason why?

Why me?

Coincidence?

They say there’s no such thing as coincidence. Everything that happens is fated.

"I don’t know," I muttered, convincing myself that I was just overthinking it too much.

Noir was surprisingly silent after that. He moved. Since my head was lowered, my line of sight was just his legs. He stood abruptly and walked away. I heard the sound of the door opening and closing, and then retreating footsteps followed.

Is he going to report me now? Should I plan my escape, hide from the UAO, or maybe migrate abroad?

I rose from the chair and slowly approached the exit. Finding out the door wasn’t locked, I was overjoyed. I pushed it open and stepped out. The light of the day wasn’t bright, so it meant it was probably late in the afternoon already.

My stomach grumbled, so instead of searching for a way out, I found myself strolling in the place until I entered the kitchen. Without asking for permission, I searched for food and water. Thankfully, the fridge was full.

I filled myself up until my headache from hunger was gone. Pocketing a few bars of expensive chocolates, I decided to search for the exit afterward.

But looking around this place, I felt a sense of familiarity. The layout of the house and the painted walls are frighteningly similar to Claude’s Sanctum.

Don’t tell me...

"Have you decided to move in here rather than your new home?"

I flinched at that familiar cold, sarcastic, and sharp voice. Of all times he’d visit...wait, shouldn’t I be glad? I could tell him Noir kidnapped me and—

"Ah, I’m still convincing him, captain. I think he likes my fridge though. Look at those bulging pockets."

Noir stood behind Claude, smiling at me meaningfully. His eyes tell me that if I so much utter a word about what happened, he’s going to make me suffer.

It’s not like I plan to.

"I was kidnapped," I blurted out without hesitation. I’m not going to tell Claude about that vortex experience, but kidnapping me is a different matter.

Noir laughed, but it was fake. I just know.

"Yeah. Etienne asked me to since he couldn’t bear to see our dearest newbie with his arm injury. So, I did. Isn’t Etienne so kind?"

That’s a load of bullshit. Claude should know it too. However, the captain’s eyes moved to my arm, and his furrowed brows went back to normal, as though accepting that shitty excuse.

"If you’re already healed, then go back to training," Claude turned around and left, closing the door with a slam.

Noir and I were stunned for a minute, watching the captain enter his car and sped away.

"What the hell did he even come here for?"

I heard Noir mumbled. He suddenly turned his head to me. I was forced to put the chocolates back.

"You can keep them. Take it as my apology for kidnapping you," he said. I grabbed the bars in an instant. "But Jade, if you speak about that strange library to anyone, you know what’s coming to you. Let’s keep it a secret between us for now. Let’s talk again soon."

He opened the door and gave me a dismissive look.

"You can leave now."

Damn him. He should have said that when Claude was still here, so I could have hitched a ride. I don’t even know where in the world Noir’s Sanctum is located. Tsk.