World's Best Protagonist [BL]-Chapter 66: World Tree

The moment they stepped onto solid ground, believing they had finally escaped that nightmarish infernal vortex, relief barely had the chance to settle before it was ripped away by Noir’s frantic voice.

Jade was missing.

Claude’s breath hitched. His body twisted sharply as his gaze swept over the team, recounting, finding that nonchalant, ordinary face, but no matter how many times his eyes scanned their faces, Jade wasn’t there.

Something heavy slammed inside his chest. It couldn’t be—

"No! Fuck! The vortex’s disappearing!" Noir’s panicked voice came again.

Allen looked up, confusion twisting his expression. He turned, scanned the group just as quickly. When he failed to see Jade’s resting bored face, his stomach dropped.

Claude was already moving. He bolted forward, sprinting back toward where the vortex had been. Mist curled violently around his hands as if he could force the vortex open again by sheer will alone.

"Jade!" His voice echoed through the barren, scorched land, but there was no response. Without another thought, he pushed the ground, jumping on the burning spiral which turned smaller and smaller.

Until it eventually disappeared.

Claude’s feet landed on the same ground.

The vortex was gone. It disappeared like it had never been there.

Allen who followed in an instant skidded to a stop beside Claude. His chest heaving rapidly. His hands clenched and unclenched, trembling with useless frustration. "How did this happen?! Was he caught up with something when we were—"

Etienne repeatedly shook his head, cutting Allen off. "No, no. He was walking next to me when we exited!"

Kenneth stepped forward. "Were you perhaps mistaken?"

"I could never!" Etienne glanced at Claude and the rest of his team. "He said I was the only one left. So, he..." His mouth shut, hesitating to tell the other team captain about Jade’s ability. "Anyway, I swear I could sense him next to me!"

Etienne’s words did not enter Claude’s ears. His hands just shot out, mist surging forward, while he desperately hit the empty air as if doing so would bring the vortex open again.

After several futile attempts, he exhaled sharply, his gut twisting with fear. "Damn it. Fuck. Open up! Open up!"

Claude growled, his mist swirling in a violent storm. His powers lashed out, fueled by the sheer force of his will, but it did nothing. The vortex was sealed. It was gone.

Jade was gone.

"Captain..." Lexie’s voice rang.

Terrius moved to stop Claude. His fists clenched and his breathing was shaky as well. Everyone looked exhausted and helpless. Reopening a raided vortex was unheard of. They don’t have resources or any knowledge to do it.

Therefore, their faces all turned dark and grim.

Etienne’s body shook.

Allen slammed his fists into the ground. "We have to get him back!" he said with a hoarse voice. "There has to be a way. There has to be..." his voice croaked. Is there really a way?

Claude ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the strands. His face was tight, the usual confidence and control completely shattered. His jaw tightened as he turned to the others. He eyed each of one of his team with resolute determination.

Then, he said with a steely voice, "We’re getting him back."

Whether Jade is dead or alive.

Amidst all this, Noir became silent after Etienne claimed that Jade was with them when they exited the vortex. A huge part of himself was hoping that the newbie disappeared into that strange place.

Because if that was the case, Jade would come back alive. Now the problem was, how is he going to break that news to his team without compromising his deal with Jade?

- - - - -

[Jade’s POV]

So, an exit could be an entrance too. Is that how this blasted space works? It was a relief I got to counsel Etienne before I disappeared into this place. The only problem was the outcome.

I left with them, but once they realized I’m not in the group, I wondered what would happen. Well, Noir will certainly explain everything. All I have to do is prepare myself once I’m back. I get the feeling I’d be interrogated worse than before I became a Seeker.

Now that I’m back, it’s time to find answers.

The place was the same as it was. That gaze that once terrified me to the core felt a bit gentler now. What changed? I could swear I was seen as an intruder before, but now I was suddenly warmly welcomed?

When I say warmly... I meant the ghost lights dancing in the air, flickering here and there, as though rejoicing my return. They looked like fireflies disturbed in their nest, flying everywhere.

I walked around, pondering. I’m going to find answers, but how? Where? Whom do I ask?

"I know there’s someone up there. Will you answer my questions?"

Silence answered me. I sighed. I could only see the stretch of bookshelves above. There was nothing there, but I still could feel someone, or maybe something, was observing me.

What kind of creature is it? I started to wonder.

I roamed around. Ah, I just remembered Noir’s request. Hopping back to the aisle where I found that book about Noir, I recalled a certain stone.

Come to think of it, I have forgotten about that stone I pocketed before. It disappeared right after I left this place.

I checked the rune in its place, and was relieved to see it inside the case again. That means, it’s something I can’t bring outside, no matter what. What a shame. If I have it, then I won’t hesitate to purchase books published in different languages.

I went back to Noir’s aisle, and grabbed the book he was in. I read it, once again. The small details about the protagonist of the book matched Noir’s answers when I questioned him about his life before.

Two things are possible.

One, Noir could be pretending, and he actually just read this book before.

Does it make sense? Well, not a hundred percent.

Second, Noir really is the protagonist of this book. Then that would mean he’s just a mere character in this story, so how did he come to life?

And...

As I looked up at the rows and rows of books around me, a question suddenly came to mind. Is Noir the only protagonist that slipped out of his book and appeared on Earth?

I continued reading Noir’s life history with that in mind, until I reached the blank page again. My hand traced the last word on it, wondering why it stopped. The last time, words appeared on their own, but now, as though the pen had run out of ink, the last word appeared faded.

An indescribable feeling of sadness surged inside me. It’s the same feeling I get when the book I’ve been following suddenly stops releasing episodes.

"Pssshhhh..."

A slow, dragging sound suddenly ripped the silence. Then, something creaked, rustled, and groaned.

My heart began beating rapidly, and cold beads of sweat formed in my forehead.

Did I finally wake up the slumbering master of this unknown place?