World's Best Protagonist [BL]-Chapter 74: Say No

A heavy silence reigned over the room. It wasn’t the usual quiet that came after an argument or an awkward pause; it was the kind of silence that meant everyone was thinking the same thing but didn’t dare say it aloud.

Claude sat at the head of the room. His arms rested on both sides of the sofa while his face displayed no reaction at all. His cold gaze swept over the team before finally landing on me.

Piercing. Like I pulled something out of his secret box, and he blamed me for it. It’s not like I did it intentionally, but I just had to confirm my suspicion, so I’d know what to do.

"...You figured it out," he muttered, almost to himself.

"I can’t wait until you finally trust me and tell me about the secrets of the team. It’s unfair. I’ve been honest, mostly, from the very beginning. You still don’t trust me."

That’s an objective conclusion from all the facts I listed in my head. He didn’t want me to join the team; he didn’t include me in meetings; and I could feel his distrust.

He exhaled sharply, leaning back against his seat. I could tell he was having difficulty answering that. I shrugged my shoulders like it was no big deal, but my chest felt heavy.

The others exchanged glances, shifting in their seats.

Claude let out a dry chuckle. "You’re too damn perceptive."

Damn him. Did he have to admit it like that?

"So, it’s true?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

Claude nodded. "Yes. Like Noir, like Terrius and Etienne... like the ’otherworlders’ you heard about. I am one of them."

That’s not what I was talking about. I’d like to say, but nevermind. I fixed my gaze on the center table, organizing my thoughts, when Claude spoke again.

"And no, it’s not true. I trust you. That’s obvious," he said as if he was just stating a fact.

I paused. Was it?

His confirmation made the room relaxed. Etienne even sighed a bit louder, relieved. He probably expected an argument, but thankfully, it did not come to that point. I’m not going to be mad just because the captain doesn’t trust me anyway.

I think it would just...hurt a bit.

I took a deep breath, then looked straight at Claude. "Then you understand why I have to tell them."

His eyes darkened slightly. "Jade—"

"No," I interrupted. "They need to know. They’re just like you."

Claude’s jaw clenched. He didn’t like being pushed, but I could tell he wasn’t as against the idea as he pretended to be.

"Do you trust them?" he asked, his voice steady and calm this time.

I didn’t hesitate. "Yes."

Claude ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Then fine."

The others visibly stiffened, and I could almost hear the unspoken questions in their heads. They had no idea what was coming.

I exhaled, glancing at Noir, who was watching me with sharp eyes, before turning to the rest of the team.

"Alright... listen up."

And so, I told them.

I told them about the World Tree, about the Ancient Keeper, about how the worlds were tilting and causing chaos, and about what needed to be done to fix it. I didn’t go into every tiny detail—there wasn’t enough time for that—but I made sure they understood the most important parts.

When I finally finished, the room was dead silent.

Terrius and Etienne looked stunned. Lexie’s eyes had widened slightly, a rare expression of genuine surprise on her usually amused face. She now looked at me differently. I don’t know how to describe it.

Noir, as expected, didn’t react much—his sharp gaze simply lingered on me as if analyzing every word. Even his usually playful attitude died down. Oh, right. I forgot to ask about what happened to the underground bunker. I should do it later.

Allen, however, looked the most affected. His brows were furrowed, lips pressed together, and his fists clenched slightly against his thighs. What’s his problem?

"So... you’re saying the apocalypse happened because of this ’imbalance’?" Lexie was the first to break the silence.

I nodded. "And if we don’t fix it, it’s only going to get worse."

No one spoke for a moment.

Then Claude leaned forward, his elbows on his thighs, and his hands were clasped together under his chin. "This is a secret that must remain here. Once you walk outside this place, never tell anyone. For Jade’s sake."

"You don’t have to tell us that," Allen replied. He locked eyes with me, still had that uncertainty dancing in his eyes. "But if fixing it means sending these ’otherworlders’ back to their respective worlds, that is a big responsibility. I want to help you, Jade. Allow me to help you."

I gave Allen a subtle smile. It was a genuine one. I appreciate his concern, but the weight of that responsibility is mine to bear. Though it’s true, I will need companions. Preferably Earthlings.

"I won’t say no to that, but if you quit along the way, I’ll smack you," I tapped his knee, chuckling.

Allen grinned. He tapped my back and answered, "Quitting is not an option. So, don’t kick me out if you get sick of my face."

Lexie raised her hands and cleared her throat. "So, in short, Jade’s job is to send the four of you back." Her lips crooked like she tasted something bitter. "The NSA won’t gonna like it. Four high-ranking Seekers disappearing? Yeah, they won’t allow that."

That already came to mind. But...

"The NSA doesn’t own them. What can they do if they want to return? I’m sure each of them has someone waiting out there, wondering when they will return or if they will ever be, beating themselves out just to find them, not knowing they traveled to another world, unwillingly."

Everyone went silent after I said that. It feels like I stepped on a landmine. One wrong move and I’d be dead. Even Etienne’s gentle visage turned dark. The temperature became colder as Terrius let out a cold breath.

I looked at Allen. He was looking ahead, but then, when he felt my inquisitive gaze on him, he turned and sighed.

"The NSA doesn’t own them. But they’re being held captive by the organization."

What...did he mean by that? Captive? But they are all free people... my mind suddenly recalled why Claude wanted his Sanctum to be destroyed. freёnovelkiss.com

Is this house...are Sanctums...their prison?!

Noir’s quiet murmur brought me back to the present.

"I need to go back." He lifted his head and met my eyes. His crimson eyes showed nothing of the Noir I knew, but someone who had been holding back two years of longing and anxiety. "I have to go back. Someone’s waiting for me. I...can’t stay here."

Something tugged at my heart while looking at Noir like he was a lost kid. I’ve been feeling sorts of emotions after leaving the World Tree. And I found myself not minding it.

When I believed I was human, I didn’t have them, but now I’m something else, I’m filled to the brim.

We stopped discussing depressing things for a while and moved on to what happened at the underground bunkers and the results of the investigation. Before we knew it, the sun was setting already.

We talked for hours and forgot lunch because everyone’s energy was drained by processing everything in their minds.

When all there was left was me and the captain, I followed him to the kitchen. He was preparing to cook and I sat on the stool by the counter.

"Captain..."

"..."

He continued peeling a radish without paying attention to me. I was glad he didn’t kick me out like he did the others.

"Captain..."

His brows slightly furrowed, but he still did not answer.

"Cap—"

"One more ’captain’ and I’ll make you separate the components of a 3-in-1 coffee pack."

I gaped at him, and then a few seconds later, I was laughing. "Did you pick up that joke somewhere? Or does it also exist in your world? Hahaha."

Claude stopped peeling, looked at me deadly, and replied seriously, "It’s not a joke."

I immediately stopped cackling. I cleared my throat. "Cap—er, I have questions," I stated.

"Don’t bother. I won’t answer them."

I groaned. "Okay, then. I have a confession."

Claude froze. The corner of my mouth lifted ever so slightly. His stern gaze flickered back to me. I could feel the pressure and the intensity. I’m only teasing him, but now I’m nervous.

I played with a tomato on the table as I constructed the words in my head.

"What is it?" Claude asked impatiently. A dangerous glint flickered in his eyes, but there was anticipation too.

I took a deep breath. "Thank you for saving my life back then. I didn’t get to say it before we parted."

A long silence settled between us. From staring at his unreadable eyes, my gaze moved down to his hand holding a knife. He wouldn’t suddenly snap and stab me, would he?

Then, a gruff voice came. "That’s it?"

I swallowed. "Do you remember now?"

His face changed. Now, he was confused. Ah, he still did not remember. I smiled. "I lied when you asked me if we’ve met before. We actually did. At the beginning. You saved my life from a winged monster inside a building."

His eyes gleamed.

"You thought I was weird because I wasn’t scared."

Slowly, his furrowed brows straightened.

I chuckled. "I thought back then you were impersonating a character in a book. But who would have thought you were actually one?"

Recognition finally flashed in his eyes.

"It’s a shame. I really liked your blonde hair," I confessed. Then, quietly, I asked, "Captain—don’t make me do that coffee thing, please, but do you also wish to come back home?"

A part of me will be sad if he says yes.