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

Chapter 124: _Breathing Space

Within the next few minutes, boots thudded against the cracked marble floor as a response team rushed into the hallway. They checked for any injuries and brought out yellow tape, declaring the executive floor inaccessible.

Until repairs were made, at least.

Ambrose and Devon parted ways—the latter giving the Guide breathing space while he headed to his suite. And the truth is... Ambrose needed it.

He hasn’t had the chance to settle in his emotions since they got back from the Echo Rift. There was already a sharp pain in his temple. Anything more and he was afraid to see what would happen next.

"This doesn’t feel like something painkillers can handle," he mumbled as he got in front of his suite’s door.

He’d barely opened the door when a small figure ran up to him.

"Daddy!"

A pair of small arms wrapped around his waist. Ambrose stood petrified, only inching back two steps. His head lowered, eyes taking in the child before him.

Slowly, a smile settled on his face. "Of course, you’re awake." He whispered, wobbling in without shaking the boy off him.

Once the door was locked behind them, he patted Orion’s head while the latter’s mouth opened.

"Daddy, did you hear that explosion? Oh my God, you smell like burnt paper. Were you hurt? Where’s papa? Are—"

Ambrose picked up the boy with one easy swoop. "Someone wants to drown his daddy in questions," he pressed a kiss on Orion’s cheek as he walked toward a sofa. "I’m fine, little urchin. It’s... nothing to worry about."

No one warned about this part of parenting—constantly trying to reassure the child that all is well. Trying to paint a peaceful, under-control world despite all the chaos you face every day.

It strung a rope around his chest that he couldn’t loosen. Made him briefly remember his childhood too... as Benji Foster.

[The host is advised to pull out depressing thoughts.] Aura warned just then. [You really haven’t been taking the doctor’s orders seriously.]

’Can you blame me?’ he sat with a grunt, placing Orion beside himself. ’I haven’t even sat my ass today and I’ve already been hit with multiple hurricanes at once.’

He brought his gaze to Orion.

His little drop of sunshine.

’... He did something to Cecil,’ the thought rushed past in a blur. ’I saw the fear in the Esper’s eyes. Heard it in his voice. That wasn’t something someone just fakes.’

His fists balled. ’Same way you don’t just randomly name drop someone who sent you and then get killed barely minutes later.’

Devon’s grandfather might not have the balls to accept the truth—but he knew Han was somehow behind this. And in some weird way, he suspected him of the explosion too.

[You think he tampered with the elevator ride? When all the lights were flickering?]

’You’re the system here. Why are you asking me?’

[Because, sweetness... while I agree that there’s foul play in the shadows—I can’t pinpoint what exactly took place. All I can do now is brainstorm possibilities.]

Ambrose exhaled slowly, dragging a hand down his face. ’Then I’ll do it myself.’

His jaw tightened. ’Han.’ The name sat bitter at the tip of his tongue. ’I’ll go to him. Make him talk.’

[And say what, exactly?] Aura’s tone softened, but there was an edge of caution beneath it. [You think he’ll just confess because you ask nicely?]

’No.’ His fingers curled against his knee. ’But I can make him slip.’

A pause.

[You’re emotional right now.]

That made him scoff quietly. ’I have every right to be.’

[You do. But confronting him like this? That’s exactly what he’d want.]

Ambrose stilled.

[Think about it. You walk up to him—angry, reactive, already convinced of his guilt. Even if he is involved, you gain nothing. At best, he denies it. At worst... You expose your hand.]

His expression hardened, but he didn’t argue.

[And what if he pushes you further?] Aura continued. [You’ve already crossed lines today you didn’t think you would.]

The image flashed—blood, the dagger, Cecil’s scream as he stared coldly at him.

His stomach twisted. ’...Then what?’

[Talk to the child.]

Ambrose’s gaze flicked to Orion.

The boy was watching him quietly now, small fingers fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. Waiting. Patient in that way children were when they sensed something was off but didn’t know how to fix it.

[Whatever happened back there... involved him.] Aura said. [You won’t get answers from Han right now. But you might get something from Orion.]

Ambrose hesitated.

His instinct was still screaming for him to move, act or retaliate.

But slowly... that fire dulled. Replaced by something heavier. Uncertainty.

"Hey." His voice came out softer this time as he shifted closer, reaching out to gently tuck a stray strand of hair behind Orion’s ear. "Can I ask you something?"

Orion nodded immediately. "Mhm."

Ambrose held his gaze for a second, searching.

"Earlier," he started carefully, "when that man came into the room..."

There it was again—that tiny shift in Orion’s expression.

"I heard what he said," Ambrose continued, quieter now. "About you."

Orion’s fingers stilled. "Did something happen?"

Silence.

Ambrose didn’t push. Didn’t rush him. He just stayed there, hand resting lightly on the boy’s shoulder.

After a moment, Orion’s lips parted.

"I..." he hesitated, eyes dropping. "I didn’t like him."

Ambrose’s chest tightened.

"He felt... bad," Orion whispered. "Like when something is wrong but you don’t know why."

A beat.

"And then?"

Orion’s brows furrowed slightly, like he was trying to remember something slippery.

"I got scared," he admitted. "And then... everything went quiet."

Ambrose’s pulse picked up. "Quiet?"

The boy nodded slowly. "Like... like when you close your ears underwater." He looked back up. "He stopped moving after that."

A chill crawled up Ambrose’s spine.

He didn’t say anything for a second. Just... watched him.

"Okay." he finally murmured, pulling Orion closer into his side. "You did well. You’re safe."

Orion leaned into him without hesitation.

But Ambrose’s mind was anything but calm.

★★★★★

Devon exhaled the second his suite door shut behind him.

Finally some quiet.

He dragged a hand through his hair, already shrugging off his Hunter uniform. The fabric hit the floor carelessly.

By the time he reached the middle of the room, he’d stripped down to a pair of tight black boxers, muscles still tense from the day’s events.

"What a mess." He muttered.

He turned toward his bedroom, intent on washing the grime—and whatever the hell that was—off his skin.

Only for a knock at his door to interrupt him.

Devon froze, his brows knitting together.

Another knock followed. Slower this time.

His expression sharpened as he approached the door, instincts kicking in. He didn’t bother covering up—just reached out and pulled it open.

When he did, his eyes widened. Then narrowed into slits. "Guide Han?"

Jae-won stood there, composed as ever. Not a single strand of hair out of place despite the chaos downstairs.

His gaze flickered briefly—taking in Devon’s state—before settling back on his face. A small, polite smile curved his lips.

"Good afternoon," he said smoothly. "I hope I’m not interrupting."