World's Best Protagonist [BL]-Chapter 91: Bait

"Are you okay?"

Lexie paused after hearing my question. She sighed and nodded solemnly. She placed down the nets she crafted on the ground and replied, "There’s nothing that can be done anyway."

I sat beside her, near the mountain wall, a few meters away from the cavern. Then, I silently watched Claude and Allen install the binders—a cylindrical metallic stake that shoots out nearly invisible, razor-thin threads once activated by a monster’s heat signature.

Terrius scouted the area, so only the four of us were present. Lexie continued weaving the sharp, yet ductile wire-like into nets, while receiving counseling from me.

I could feel her emotions. She was sad, dismayed, and anxious. I cleared my throat, ready to comfort her with words I’m not sure would help, but then she patted my hand on her shoulder, interrupting me.

"I’m fine now. You still have to cleanse the other three, so you should conserve your energy."

I took my hand back. "Right."

Thankfully, Terrius and Claude didn’t seem to need a lot of counseling. Now that I know the disadvantage of cleansing an outworlder, I need to be more careful with them.

"I must have been a bother and being too dramatic."

"You’re not," I quickly replied.

Lexie shook her head once, not believing me. I frowned. Then, she added without lifting her head, "I grew up without a family. My parents... Never met them. I just know I’m abandoned in a small orphanage run by the nuns."

"You don’t consider them as family?" freewebnoveℓ.com

She chuckled. "Nope. I didn’t stay for that long. I ran away when I was nine because I just couldn’t follow the strict rules, lots of prayer, lots to memorize, and other things to do."

"You got some guts. Me? I couldn’t run away at that age."

"Something must have held you back." She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "I have nothing that binds me too deep in that place."

She finished another one and piled it over the completed ones. Just how many nets will we be needing? But where would a nine-year-old ran off to? Did she live on the street?

She was brave but naive. But that was because she was young.

"I lived on the streets just for a few days, then, was brought into another foster home after a social worker found me. I behaved normally this time, even did my best to be chosen, but no one wanted to adopt me."

"They missed something fun."

"Maybe I wasn’t fun back then. I was the goody, mature kid who knew how to take care of herself already. And parents want someone they could baby."

She stopped weaving at last and just watched Allen and Claude with a distant gaze. The sunlight only cast on the rocky wall, so the surroundings were a bit dimmer despite the sky still being bright.

"Later on, I stopped hoping. I grew up and graduated from the foster home. I left after that and fended for myself, thinking if I can’t have a family, then I’ll just create my own. But..."

Her sudden pause made me impatient. I turned to her, only to find her observing me intently as if she wanted to jump me. Unconsciously, I scooched an inch away from her.

"But how come I couldn’t find a man that attracts me?"

Maybe you’re a lesbian. Or asexual?

"How about them?" I pointed at Claude and Allen using my lips. Lexie briefly glanced at them, then turned to me again.

"No. How about you?"

A playful grin hung on her lips. I grimaced. "We’re talking about you here. Don’t change the subject, Lexie."

She laughed. She definitely knew something! Are all women’s instincts when it comes to romantic relationships this sharp?

Wait, romantic what...?

No, Jade. Erase. Erase. There’s no romance here!

After laughing right in my face, she stood from her seat and reassured me. "Don’t worry about me, Jade. I’m sad that the group I’ve treated as a family for two years is going to be disbanded. But no family stays together forever, right? Eventually, everyone walks their own paths..."

"You think that you’re being left behind."

Lexie shook her head once. "I’m thinking I’ll walk my own path too."

I wonder what path she’s going to take after all this? How about me? Will I remain here after I finish sending these lost warriors back home?

Books are still my favorites, but now that I’ve experienced what it’s like to build strong relationships with people, I think being cooped up in a library without anyone but me...will feel so lonely.

"We’re done. Are those nets? Do they need to be installed too?" Allen approached us while dusting his hands by clapping.

"No. We can’t guarantee which way the monster might turn, so installing them might be useless. I made four. Each of us carries one," Lexie answered.

"Why only four? We’re five here."

Lexie turned to me. "One for me, Allen, vice-captain, and captain."

"And me?" I asked, raising a brow.

"You’re bait." Claude’s voice came from a few meters away. He was crouched on the ground, pulling something from the spatial suitcase.

I picked my ears just in case I heard wrong. I thought they did not want me near the boss’ lair, but now they’re using me as bait? Wow.

"Don’t worry, Jade. You’ll be protected by my barrier," Allen reassured me.

"When night falls, our visions will have to adjust to the darkness. It will be difficult if the monster comes at us from different angles. However, if it senses you, then its path of attack is only directed at you."

I thanked Lexie for explaining that to me.

"Then, I have no choice, huh," I said flatly. "Do I have to stand in front of the cavern and wait for it to come?"

"Don’t be sarcastic. If you’re afraid, we won’t do it."

I gritted my teeth at the captain. He was obviously teasing me. "I’m not afraid. I’m also not being sarcastic. I’m genuinely asking how I can help."

"Allen will focus on protecting you. Lexie, Terrius, and I will be the ones to attack. Once the ground shakes, run faster. You’re fast, aren’t you? But don’t be reckless and use your ability when it’s not needed."

"Won’t it be faster if I use it instead?"

"Sure. But if something happens to our Minder, we might not have a choice but to kill the boss and end it quickly."

"We can exhaust your energy, Jade. You’re our charge. Subduing a monster is tougher than killing it," Allen added, backing up Claude.

"Alright. I get it."