Chapter 7: The Price of Paperbacks

Enoch Cloud offered Ethan a radiant smile. It was a dazzling sight, almost halo-like, yet clearly a practiced, commercial grin, typical of an entertainer.

“To think such a beauty existed even in this rural corner,” Enoch mused. “While Scott is certainly charming, how about you, delivery person? Why don’t you get tested for a Guide evaluation? Shall we see if we’re a match of 70% or more?”

With those words, Enoch extended an arm and pulled Ethan towards him. Ethan, who had been admiring Enoch as if he were a figure from an electronic magazine, was startled by the sudden embrace and instinctively pushed him away. It was with the unexpected strength of Iwol, who had been carrying boxes of onions and potatoes.

Crash!

A force unimaginable from Ethan’s delicate appearance sent Enoch flying back two to three meters. Unprepared, Enoch struggled to regain his balance, only to land ungracefully on his backside.

Espers and Guides with a matching rate of 70% or higher could recognize each other instantly and unequivocally. Even without the Guide intentionally focusing on guiding or engaging in sexual contact, the Esper would become acutely aware of their Guide’s presence.

Such a high matching rate meant that even a minor touch, like holding hands, would temporarily alleviate the persistent, minor headaches that had become a daily torment for them.

One of the many reasons some Espers were so eager for physical contact was a desperate struggle: to receive even a tiny bit of guiding by brushing against ordinary people, and simultaneously, to find their own unique Guide who could instantly transport them to paradise.

Of course, Enoch had been the subject of countless s*x scandals even before he awakened as an Esper.

As a multi-Guide, Ethan was likely to have a 70% matching rate with many Espers, not just Enoch. Therefore, he was using Oweol’s ability to protect himself, preventing Espers from reacting to him.

Oweol, the Crow of Ash, was born from ashes after everything had burned away, granting them resistance to fire. They also possessed the ability to nullify the unknown energy of others upon direct contact, rendering it ineffective. However, Oweol could not prevent physically inflicted harm or sexual contact, specifically interactions through mucous membranes.

Though Oweol was one of the eight gwi with the most practical applications, they were also one of the most demanding. Thus, Ethan reluctantly invoked Oweol’s power as a precautionary measure whenever he anticipated contact with others.

It was unfair that he was still a virgin at twenty-three because of the burden of being a multi-Guide, but there was nothing he could do. One wrong romantic entanglement could ruin his entire life.

Ethan, having been briefly embraced by Enoch, let out a long sigh. It was clear this incident wouldn’t end with a mere cubic zirconia pin; it would likely demand a solid gold piece as compensation.

‘Ah, damn it. He isn’t even going to gild his own wings with it.’

“…Pfft.”

Ethan, who had been grumbling inwardly, turned his head at the sudden, quiet burst of laughter. There stood Bliss Moore, his expression as impassive as ever.

‘Did I mishear him?’ Ethan wondered. As he tried to turn more fully, a string of curses that followed snapped him back to attention.

“Ow, ow, ow! Damn it! What kind of delivery person…!”

The force was strong enough to send an ordinary person flying and cause serious injury. However, neither Enoch, a recently awakened Esper, nor Bliss, whose standards for strength were typically calibrated against other Espers, could truly gauge its magnitude.

Had Philip Wyman, an ordinary human who had vacated his spot for his guest Enoch, been there, things might have unfolded differently.

Nevertheless, once Ethan regained his composure, he felt emboldened.

“Of course, a delivery person is strong. So, why did you suddenly grope me?”

“G-grope…!”

Enoch’s expression went blank at being treated this way for the first time in his life. Unable to form a coherent response, he turned his gaze to Bliss, as if to say ‘look at this guy,’ and his face twisted in annoyance. Bliss’s seemingly impassive eyes, clearly twinkling with amusement, were undeniably enjoying the situation, infuriating Enoch further.

“Hey, delivery person. You just pushed a nobleman, you know?”

As Enoch spoke with a hint of irritation, Ethan doubled down.

“Wow, did a central nobleman just oppress an innocent citizen? This is exactly what power abuse looks like. I just recorded that. I heard there’s a huge media frenzy in Morafolio City because of someone, so I might just go give an interview. It’ll be about the famous Enoch Cloud of Count Cloud’s family, who attempted to grope a beautiful delivery person, failed, and then tried to suppress them with his power.”

“B-beautiful….”

“I’m very well aware of my own looks, you see. An incident like this absolutely requires the epithet ‘beautiful person’.”

Ethan, who had brazenly transformed a matter of minutes into a scandal of a celebrity using their power for sexual harassment, replied confidently. Indeed, the inclusion of ‘beautiful person’ made the story sound all the more sensational.

“…*I’m* the more beautiful one.”

Ethan paused, taken aback by Enoch Cloud’s pride, which stubbornly asserted itself even amidst a sea of shock.

“Uh, well….”

‘He’s right.’ Enoch Cloud was so beautiful that one might say a divine messenger had returned. His lustrous silver hair and clear, emerald eyes possessed a beauty that one could gaze upon endlessly without tiring. Ethan was about to correct himself, thinking it was perhaps unfair to compare a meticulously groomed man in expensive clothes to a mere delivery person like himself.

“If you just kept your mouth shut, you’d probably be similar.”

“Bliss!”

Enoch, a true product of narcissism, cried out almost like a shriek, but Bliss merely scanned Ethan with an intrigued gaze.

“In any case, Enoch doesn’t seem to be your type.”

“…Excuse me?”

‘Why would that come up now?’ Ethan and Enoch blinked in confusion. However, Bliss, who was not as annoyed as one might expect and had been provided with quite an entertaining spectacle, decided to do Ethan a favor.

“Hey, delivery person.”

Instead of a reply, Ethan merely offered a sulky expression, prompting Enoch to complain loudly. He gestured, asking if Bliss had ever seen such impudence from a military general or an heir to a marquisate. Regardless of Enoch’s outburst, Bliss continued speaking.

“Paper books.”

“…Pardon?”

“Twice a week.”

Despite the brevity of the words, Ethan’s face instantly brightened as he deduced the context.

“Really?! So I just need to contact you before coming?”

“Yes.”

Ethan, who hadn’t even considered getting Bliss Moore’s contact information, excitedly asked again.

“Then, should I contact you using the same number used for the grocery order?”

For a moment, Bliss, who had been about to give his own number, paused.

“…I’ll give you Philip’s contact information.”

After a rather long pause, Bliss replied, then opened his tablet. He took Ethan’s number and, in return, sent Philip’s. Once this sequence of events concluded, Ethan suddenly straightened his back, adopted a formal posture, and offered a respectful bow. Though a slightly outdated etiquette, it was a gesture of elegant deference.

“Indeed, a nobleman who cares for the Empire’s citizens is truly different. Thank you, Lord Bliss Moore.”

“Hmph—”

It was Enoch Cloud who let out an exasperated sigh at Ethan’s sudden change in demeanor, as if flipping a switch. Bliss, who had abruptly become a nobleman deeply concerned for the Empire’s citizens, simply stared with a bewildered expression at Ethan’s departing back as he confidently walked out the main gate.

“Bliss.”

“…Hm.”

“How does he know that old Nerian style of bowing?”

Bliss found it rather unusual as well. Given that this was once Nerian territory, he wondered if Ethan had learned it from someone local.

“I’m not sure. He seems to have a keen interest in history.”

“It seems there are still people teaching that etiquette. But seriously, is he really more beautiful than me?”

“…”

Instead of answering, Bliss simply dismissed him.

****

“…It’s fine for you to visit the manor, but there are a few restricted areas. I’ll leave the paper books you need in the guest study on the first floor, so please do not go up to the second floor. Also, it would be best if your visits could generally avoid weekends.”

Meeting Ethan at a small village cafe, Philip Wyman presented a stack of inscrutable documents, reciting a lengthy list of prohibitions. Ethan, who had been listening with growing boredom, finally spoke in a somewhat weary voice as Philip’s explanation drew to a close.

“I work part-time at a restaurant three weekdays, either mornings or afternoons, and at a cafe for the other two days, fitting in delivery gigs whenever I can. So, when exactly am I supposed to visit during the week? Given how meticulously you’ve prepared these prohibitions, I assume you’ve also considered a solution for this, right?”

“No, but what kind of part-time work…?”

“I need to earn as much as possible before I go back to school, you see.”

As Philip stared, flustered, Ethan offered a roguish smile. It was evident that if there was no solution, Ethan would unleash a torrent of complaints as compensation for wasting his precious time on mere prohibitions. Seeing this, Philip hastily called his superior.

A moment later, he shared his call with Ethan’s tablet. Bliss’s low, resonant voice became audible to both of them.

[Why don’t you quit your part-time jobs and work for me, organizing my materials instead? I’ll pay you well.]

“…Uh, how much will you pay?”

[It depends on how well you organize things, but how about 1.5 million gid per week for a month?]

‘My goodness. That’s five silk handkerchiefs a week!’

Even without the person in front of him, Ethan politely clasped his hands together and replied.

“It might take a few days, but I’ll sort everything out immediately.”

As the call ended, Philip, who had just been flustered while calling his superior, now presented a pre-prepared contract as if nothing had happened.

“You’ve made an excellent decision. I know your restaurant and cafe jobs are quite high-paying, but 1.5 million gid a month and 1.5 million gid a week are quite different, aren’t they? I refrained from mentioning our offer outright, fearing you might resent it, but if I’d known it would be resolved so smoothly, I would have told you sooner. Now, please sign here, here, and here. Perfect. You’ve done well.”

Ethan listened to Philip’s words in a daze, unconsciously signing the electronic contract Philip offered. Philip swiftly retrieved the contract, saved and organized it, then sent a copy along with the extensive prohibition documents he had just recited. A sly smile played on his lips.

In this small village, Philip, who already knew all about Ethan’s part-time jobs and personality, and had even put on a clumsy secretary act, now resembled a tiger playfully regarding a newborn puppy.

“Alright then. We would appreciate it if you would now familiarize yourself with these prohibition documents, Mr. Ethan Prescott.”

Bliss’s capable secretary then leisurely departed. Much later, Ethan clutched his head, groaning in agony.

‘I’ve been had. Completely duped!’