Chapter 24: Unasked

Following the now noticeably friendlier staff member, Lee Juju walked along, then looked at Lieutenant Colonel Miles, who was staring at him with his mouth hanging open, with sheer exasperation.

“What are you doing?”

He was, quite literally, looking at Lieutenant Colonel Miles with pity.

“You’re the first person who’s ever looked down on me like that.”

Twisting steaming hot cream pasta around his fork, Lieutenant Colonel Miles muttered gloomily.

Lee Juju, meanwhile, did the same, popping a bite into his mouth and savoring the sweet, rich cream.

“It’s good.”

“Right?”

At that single word of praise, Lieutenant Colonel Miles instantly recovered and broke into a cheerful grin.

“Try some other dishes too. Their pizza’s good as well. Let’s see…”

‘Honestly, he’s such a simple man.’

As he ate his pasta and glanced around, Juju noticed people not only seated at tables but also gathering in small groups out in the hall, dancing. What he’d assumed was just an ordinary restaurant seemed more like a jazz bar combined with a restaurant.

“Oh my, aren’t you Lieutenant Colonel Miles?”

Someone recognized him. Juju’s gaze naturally followed.

A middle-aged woman stood there, elegantly dressed, her hair neatly swept up.

Lieutenant Colonel Miles looked momentarily flustered, but soon rose and greeted her politely.

“Good afternoon, ma’am.”

“Oh dear. Are we really at the stage where we need to greet each other so formally? Have you been well?”

“Of course I have.”

“And who is this?”

“Oh, this is…”

After looking at Juju with a rather complicated expression, Lieutenant Colonel Miles readily introduced him.

“This is Lee Juju, a new member of our unit.”

“Oh?”

The woman looked at Juju as if she were gazing at something utterly adorable.

“My name is Gorrella Rwendel.”

“I’m Lee Juju.”

Reading the room, Juju greeted her politely.

Lieutenant Colonel Miles, having set aside his usual glibness, quietly watched Juju and Mrs. Gorrella.

“But what brings you all the way out here, ma’am?”

‘Hmm. For Miles to be this humble… she must be someone important.’

Juju briefly wondered if she might even be the First Lady. He’d overheard before that this world didn’t have presidents for each country, but rather something like chancellors.

“What do you mean, ‘what brings me’?”

A sad smile surfaced on Mrs. Gorrella’s face.

“I came because I missed him. Of course, he still won’t see me… but even being nearby brings me some comfort.”

“I see.”

Lieutenant Colonel Miles nodded, looking like he understood.

Juju listened to their conversation without much thought.

It soon ended. Mrs. Gorrella bid them farewell, saying she hoped to see them again, and left.

When Miles returned to his seat, Juju caught a glimpse of her from afar, walking away arm in arm with a middle-aged gentleman whose strikingly clear blue eyes stood out.

Only as the meal was coming to an end did Lieutenant Colonel Miles speak again.

“Why don’t you ask?”

“Ask what?”

“Who that lady was.”

“Oh. Right.”

Poking at the palate-cleansing sorbet with his fork, Juju answered casually.

“If I asked, would you tell me?”

“Of course.”

Miles said cheerfully. Juju wasn’t sure what there was to be so happy about.

He glanced at Miles’ smiling face, then fixed his gaze back on the sorbet.

People loved gossip, especially gossip about famous people who had nothing to do with them.

Juju acknowledged that such gossip could be useful for small talk.

But still…

“No thanks.”

“Huh? You’re not curious?”

“Not really. She looked like a noblewoman, but what does knowing who she is have to do with me? It’s best not to get involved with people like that. You can tell at a glance she has a complicated story.”

“…Is that so, Juju?”

“Yes.”

That was Juju’s way.

As an S-class guide, he’d met all kinds of people, but getting tangled up with a tragic, beautiful noblewoman never led to anything good. At best, it ended in an affair.

Lieutenant Colonel Miles looked thoughtful.

“Most people would be curious about the backstory, but you’re different.”

“It’s not my business anyway. You don’t need to tell me.”

Juju shook his head. Watching him shake his small head and struggle to scoop up sorbet with his fork, Miles smiled faintly.

Lee Juju really wasn’t an ordinary person.

He’d heard that guides were basically no different from civilians, and had believed it, but Juju turned out to be stranger than any esper.

After all, people who found meaning in helping others selflessly, without compensation, were exceedingly rare.

Was it that he completely lost interest in those he couldn’t help?

Miles smacked his lips thoughtfully.

He’d intended to naturally bring up Colonel Shan, spark Juju’s interest, and maybe help the two reconcile…

But oddly enough, he wasn’t disappointed that his half-baked plan had failed. If anything, he was glad.

“Alright, I get it. Mrs. Gorrella is Colonel Shan Pei’s mother. That’s why I know her fairly well. I was actually thinking of telling you more and maybe badmouthing Shan a bit, but that’s a shame. Ah, manager.”

At that moment, Juju’s fork froze midair.

The manager, who had been attentively watching to see if their meal was finished, approached and bowed politely.

“The taxi is waiting at the front entrance. Shall I escort you?”

“I’d appreciate that.”

“There were taxis?”

Juju stared at Miles incredulously. Miles replied with a smile.

“Of course there were. Come on, stop torturing the poor lemon sorbet.”

Urging him along, Miles ushered Juju out.

Before he knew it, an elegant black car straight out of a Sherlock Holmes novel was waiting for them. As Juju settled into the comfortably cushioned taxi, Miles waved through the window.

“You go ahead in the taxi. I’ve got something else to take care of. See you.”

“Wait- hold on!”

‘Why aren’t you coming with me?!’

That night, Juju tossed and turned, unable to sleep, nearly driven mad by curiosity over what kind of complicated history Colonel Shan might have.

Did he have a bad relationship with his parents? Why? What had happened?

Suddenly, he remembered the clear blue eyes of the middle-aged gentleman who’d been with Mrs. Gorrella.

Had Colonel Shan inherited his father’s eye color?

Without warning, Juju clenched his fist and pounded his soft pillow.

‘Why am I thinking about the colonel at this hour? What’s so great about him? This is annoying.’

Because he’d stayed up so late, Juju didn’t wake until the sun was high in the sky.

Or rather, he was forced awake by loud knocking on his door.

“Who is it?”

“Oh, did you sleep well?”

Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Juju opened the door to find Lieutenant Colonel Miles, and… Colonel Shan.

Bang!

Startled out of his wits, Juju slammed the door shut right in their faces and paced back and forth in panic. His eyes, barely open a moment ago, flew wide.

‘What? Why are they here? I mean, Miles comes whenever he wants, but… Colonel Shan? Why- why is he here?’

He’d spent the previous night chewing the colonel out in his head for not coming to meet him. Shock, happiness, and guilt tangled together chaotically.

“…Juju?”

A bewildered voice came from beyond the door. Juju shouted back.

“I’m going to wash my face!”

He dashed into the bathroom and stared at his reflection in the mirror, streaked with water stains.

‘No. This is bad.’

Crease marks were still pressed into his cheek from sleeping, his eyes were crusted, and they were swollen from staying up late. He looked downright awful.

Running cold water and trying to reduce the puffiness, Juju desperately told himself that Colonel Shan hadn’t seen his face properly. After all, he’d shut the door really fast…

“Oh, there you are.”

When Juju came out, Lieutenant Colonel Miles, who had apparently opened the door himself without permission, was standing inside, scanning Juju’s room with interest. Colonel Shan stood beside him.

“What brings you here so early?”

“Juju, it’s not morning anymore.”

Miles replied with amusement. Peeling damp hair off his face irritably, Juju grumbled.

“Yes, yes. So why are you here?”

“You’ll find out once we leave.”

“I need to change clothes.”

Juju muttered. Miles shrugged.

“Whether you go out in pajamas or in uniform, no one’s going to care. What does it matter?”