Seducing the Guideverse With My System — Raising an Anomaly [BL]

[What’s with you and letting your secrets loose today?]

’Oh, I’m sorry. Did you have a better idea for this shit?’ Ambrose snapped mentally while trying not to suffocate under the pressuring stares from the two S-Ranks. ’It was only a matter of time before I couldn’t hide things from Viktor anymore.’

[Right—but telling them about Valentine? You might’ve just dug a hole too big for even you to climb out of.]

"Phew." Viktor relaxed on the sofa, rubbing his forehead. "Sitting down isn’t enough at this point." Then he murmured something in Russian that sounded too thick to be mere talk.

Probably cursing him out.

"Where does one lie start?" Devon’s eyes were distant. Too distant. "And where does another one end—Rose?"

Ambrose’s brows knitted. "Lies? No, no, no... Devon, I haven’t lied. Not about Valentine at least."

"You didn’t exactly inform me that you’re out there linking with every powerful Esper in the country."

"What the—"

"Wait a minute." Devon lifted a hand. "Don’t tell me you linked with Hunter Gabriel too. At the Vatican City. You two were weirdly—"

"How the fuck did you come up with something like that?"

"I mean at this point I won’t be surprised."

Ambrose bit his bottom lip.

Surprisingly, Viktor stayed quiet on the sofa, occasionally flicking his eyes between the two like he didn’t know how to bump in.

In reality, the Ice Prince was too overwhelmed to speak. He kept thinking back to every reaction he’s had with the Guide.

From the S-Rank raid when they first ’met’... Although they barely spoke to each other. To the time he clumsily bumped into him at a restaurant asking for his number.

That last one was the day when he officially got curious about the little bird. But, now that he thought about it—

"Ambrose," he chipped in before either of them could go on with their bickering. They watched him adjust his sitting posture with a light sigh. "How many of my... feelings since I’ve known you have been mine? And how many were from the influence of the link?"

Now Ambrose felt cornered.

On the one hand, there was a powerful man who was jealous and suspicious of all the men he’s been around. On the other hand, there was one who was beginning to unravel whether he had been manipulated all this time.

And then there was him... who wanted to be literally anywhere else but here.

"If you want a timeline of when I created the link with you," He closed his eyes for a beat. Maybe that would make it easier to talk. "It was during our little ’date’. At Pinnacle Pavilion."

He opened his eyes only to witness Viktor’s face flickering with hesitation. Then very quickly—realisation.

"Shit." He chuckled dryly. "That... actually makes sense. Before that night all I felt was the desire to understand you more. Perhaps sleep with you too."

Heat flooded Ambrose’s cheeks but he didn’t interrupt. Neither did he dare incline his head to Devon.

"After that night though..." Viktor heaved. "My feelings have been rawer. Far more intense and hard to understand."

"Viktor, I didn’t mean—"

"And now you’re telling me it was an accident. A link you never meant to create to begin with."

Ambrose kept his lips sealed.

He couldn’t possibly tell either of them about the system or how creating links was his fastest way of getting more powerful.

In fact, even if he could... he had a feeling that both men would view him as more manipulative.

"I came here for clarity," Viktor rose off the sofa, flicking off beads of sweat from his temple. "But I believe I’ve gotten way more than what I could ever bargain for."

The slip of his accent in most of his words was enough of a sign that he was getting emotional. Anger. Confusion. Something close to despair.

He adjusted his gloves, giving Devon and Ambrose nods. "Excuse me."

Viktor looked like he wanted to say something else. In the end, he didn’t.

Before Ambrose could even come up with words to get him to stay, he’d gotten to the door. It slammed behind him once he was out, leaving the Guide and Devon in an awkward silence.

Sadly, that silence didn’t last for long. "Your actions and lack thereof hurt people," Devon gave him a sweeping look. "I hope you know that. Especially those who care about you."

Ambrose didn’t have a response.

Devon didn’t wait for one, smiling wryly. "I have to head back to my suite. For air." He announced. "We’ll talk about final decisions on what house to pick later. Or you can text me... at this point."

With that, he spun on his heels, waltzing out of the suite. When he was left alone, Ambrose lowered himself to the sofa, burying his face in his palms.

[They’ll come around.] Aura assured without her usual snark. [By the way, your rewards from linking with Valentine. Do you—]

"I already know what they are so there’s no need." He shook his head. "I just... let me just have this time to myself..."

★★★★★

Morozov Private Manor

In her study room, Irina Morozov sat behind her desk, wearing a pair of reading glasses. She was hooked on some Guild files, taking sips from a glass of iced tea once in a while.

Ever since the Echo Rift, she’s barely had a time like this—alone without Hunter-related disturbances. She let out a soft inhale when she was done reviewing the final set of files.

"There really has been an increase of high rank Rifts in recent days." She took off the glasses. "I should be getting updates on that A-Rank Rift right about—"

A knock sounded on her door just then.

Just like she predicted.

"Come in."

The door swung open, letting a familiar face step in. A female medic and one of the Guild’s most skilled A-Rank Guides.

"Camile." Irina smiled, flipping back strands of her icy silver hair. "I heard the raid team successfully closed the A-Rank Rift. I suppose you’re here with more updates."

There was something... off about Camille’s expression. She tried masking it but she could tell she was about to get some bad news of sorts.

Surprising since she’d personally assigned her son to this mission to avoid any hiccups.

"Ma’am, the raid was conducted with no casualties." Camile began. "Although... The team did report that the monsters there seemed stronger than one would expect from an A-Rank dungeon. Plus, there were aether crystals—"

"No offence, Camile, but can you skip straight to whatever bad news you have?" Irina huffed. "I can already sense the tension in your tone. Something happened didn’t it?"

Camille’s throat tightened.

She tapped the logbook between her hands briefly before finding her voice again. "It’s your son, Ma’am." The pause that came after those words made Irina’s jaw tick. "He... his aether went wild. He was close to being berserk."

Irina’s frown deepened. "There was an S-Rank Guide on that mission, no? What seems to be the problem?"

"That’s the thing, Ma’am." Camile swallowed. "He... was unresponsive to normal guiding. An effect that only appears in Espers who’ve been permanently linked with a Guide."

For the first time since the Guide walked into the study room, Irina’s face twitched with genuine curiosity. She leaned closer, placing her arms on the desk.

"Viktor found his Permanent Guide?"

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