World's Best Protagonist [BL]-Chapter 73: Discussion (2)

I stood there, arms crossed, as my teammates stared at me with unwavering curiosity, their gazes burning holes through my soul. The pressure was suffocating. But instead of thinking what to say, I was busy minding another thing.

"So, uh..." I cleared my throat, shifting my weight. "Where are we sitting for this interrogation?"

Etienne blinked. "Interrogation?"

Lexie smirked. "You did disappear into a vortex, then came back out of nowhere, looking suspiciously fine. I think ’interrogation’ is accurate. Though I wonder when exactly did you return?"

"Right. That’s weird. We were just talking to the captain over the phone when he went off the line, then when he came back, he was canceling our plans to import vortex specialists from abroad to help summon the last one, and informing us you’ve returned already," Terrius added.

I gulped nervously. Why are they even curious about that?

"You should have reported to the NSA first when you came back," Allen said next, sounding upset. He must have realized the indication of what he said because his eyes widened shortly. "Ah, I’m sorry. I was shortsighted. I didn’t consider what you might go through in the NSA. What happened to you is... not normal."

"And everything that goes beyond what’s normal is put under strict observation," Noir added as he stepped forward. "We explained to the NSA that you just disappeared due to a misunderstanding."

Now what kind of misunderstanding would make someone disappear in a blink? A lover’s spat?

"We told them you suddenly had a tormenting wave of bowel irritation."

"You’re joking, right?" I glared at Noir.

He shrugged his shoulders. "You’ll find your desk in the NSA full of gut health supplements tomorrow, I bet."

"They’re stupid if they think Etienne can’t handle that."

Noir just rolled his eyes.

"We know you should rest first, but we still came here and bombarded you with questions. We need an explanation to better help you deal with the consequences, if ever this gets leaked out," Allen said.

I nodded.

Noir, standing a little behind everyone, had his arms crossed and was tapping his foot. He looked like he was ready to drag me off somewhere private and shake the truth out of me.

There are so many things to discuss. But first, let me get us comfortable seats. I turned and knocked on Claude’s door.

The house was silent for a moment. Then, the door creaked open just enough for Claude’s sharp gaze to peek through. His eyes flickered to me, then to the group behind me. His expression instantly soured.

"What?"

I smiled. "We need to talk. There’s a lot to discuss."

Claude raised a brow. "What else?" His gaze flickered over my shoulder. "You haven’t finished discussing with them?"

"I don’t. We haven’t even started."

"Captain, bombing your yard was Noir’s suggestion," Lexie quickly explained, her tone was like a kid snitching her brother’s wrongdoing on their mother.

Claude blinked, glanced over his shoulder at the state of his completely wrecked front yard, then looked back at Lexie.

Lexie, sensing she might be forgiven, quickly pointed at Noir. "I swear, it was really his idea."

Noir shrugged his shoulders, completely unbothered. "Yo, Lex, the captain won’t be mad over that. I bet he’d be even more glad if you threw the bomb on his roof instead."

Claude just sighed, looking like he wanted to throw all of us out. Instead, he deadpanned, confirming Noir’s words, "I would’ve been happier if you bombed the whole house instead."

Lexie blinked. "...What?"

Noir chuckled. "I told you~"

"I could’ve finally moved out." Claude walked past us toward the living room, muttering, "Would’ve saved me the trouble."

Lexie gawked. "I—I don’t know what to say to that!" She then followed him.

"Why is that?" I whispered to Terrius, wondering why the captain would want to move out.

Terrius stared at me as if having trouble choosing whether to answer me or not. What’s the big deal?

Then, the answer came. "Sanctums are made of indestructible materials, just like the training center."

And? I already heard about that. So, why did the captain even entertain the idea of bombing his house if nothing could destroy it?

Terrius pressed his lips tightly, he suddenly looked displeased as though he remembered something unpleasant. Then, he turned and walked away, leaving me in the air.

I was the last one to enter, but Allen closed the door.

Claude threw me a glare over his shoulder. I know that look. He’s reminding me of what we talked about in his room.

The rest of the team cautiously took seats around the living room. Allen, naturally, sat right next to me. Noir leaned against the wall, his unreadable gaze pinned on me like a silent demand.

I exhaled slowly. Alright. Time to tell them something—just not everything. And preferably without getting myself killed by a certain mist-wielding maniac in the process.

I answered their questions, a bit honestly. While Claude watched me like a hawk, I had to confess that someone knew it before he did. It’s now or never. I’m embarrassed to admit... but I like these guys already.

I know they have secrets too, but it’s time to lay them open on the table. I’m not saying they should share even their deepest desire, but, in order for me to help poor Mother Earth, I need companions.

I need to gain their trust, and vice versa.

"Actually, Noir knows it too, captain," I began.

Claude’s jaw clenched. His gaze moved to Noir. "What do you know?"

Noir turned to me, his eyes clearly asking if Claude was now aware. I nodded in response. "Why would you tell him?" He asked me instead of answering the captain.

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. The joyful atmosphere was gone, it was now replaced by tension.

I’m not sure if the other two, Allen and Lexie, know it, but... I had to do this.

I exhaled a deep breath. Then, I met Noir’s accusing eyes. "He deserves to know. Terrius and Etienne too."

Noir’s eyes shook. He understood what I implied.

Allen shifted beside me. I glanced at him.

He asked, his voice dejected, "What about me? And Lexie? Don’t we also deserve to know what you guys are talking about?"

"Did you know why only the four of them have Sanctums?" I asked back.

Allen and Lexie flinched. They averted their eyes from me.

I was part of their team, but they did not bother to inform me about that important information. I had to put it piece by piece to get the bigger picture. I understood that they were just being too cautious, and that was why we were having these talks.

I want to trust them, not only Claude, but I also want them to trust me.

"I thought it was absurd when I heard some reporters addressing someone ’otherworlders’, but after knowing that vortexes are worlds, I figured things out one by one."

Everyone held their breath. I looked at Claude and asked, "You’re just like Noir, aren’t you, captain? Like Terrius and Etienne, like those ’otherworlders’."