Chapter 185: A BURDEN.

Chapter 185: 185: A BURDEN.

"I guess it was a burden..." Ryan said with a soft smile.

June and Nyx stared at each other in confusion before turning back to Ryan, waiting for his explanation.

Ryan had woken up with all the privileges that came with being born into an elite family. He had everything he could ever want and more, to the point that it had completely become a burden.

Growing up, he was homeschooled. His parents were heavily skeptical about sending him to a normal school because they were afraid his status would bring problems or attract enemies. It was their way of protecting him.

But their extreme protection rather became a burden for him. He grew up without friends or the feeling of companionship. He had to get used to being alone, keeping himself company with his hobbies and enjoying BLs by himself.

This made Ryan somewhat hate his status. It deprived him of a lot of things he wanted to experience. But eventually, Ryan managed to convince his parents that he wanted to attend Arcadia Academy.

His parents were against the idea at first, but he strongly convinced them. He proposed going there under the disguise of being an F-rank so no one would know his true identity.

Ryan had gotten emotional that day and expressed how his status and their overprotective upbringing were becoming a burden to him. He explained how lonely he had become without being able to experience life like everyone else.

His parents had gotten emotional as well and considered his words carefully. Eventually, they allowed him to go, but with the condition that he would disguise himself as an F-rank.

It was for his safety.

"...I guess it was the only way to get in here while also protecting myself..." Ryan smiled as he finished explaining.

June and Nyx slowly nodded.

"But are your parents okay with you telling us this?" June asked.

Ryan smiled and nodded. "Yes. I had previously told them about you. They were curious about you, so I decided to bring you two here."

"Oh..." June nodded.

With a gentle smile, June came over and sat beside Ryan, gently patting him on the hair. "It’s okay. I understand you. And besides, you have me now. A best friend. I’ll show you all the things friends do. You’ll never feel lonely again."

Ryan smiled as he stared at him and Nyx. "You don’t have to be so dramatic about it..."

The two of them smiled.

Then June sighed. "I suppose you were able to get into the academy with your wits, then..."

Ryan nodded. "Yes."

"And your S-rank skill is...?" June tilted his head in thought.

Ryan smiled as he explained, "I can read through energies."

"Huh?" June stared at him. "Read through energies?"

Ryan nodded with a smile. "In dungeons and among awakened people, I can somewhat read through their energies. It allows me to predict their movements and how their energy will behave."

June thought about it for a while.

"Wow. And that’s how you knew so much about the dungeon we were in and what to do..."

Ryan nodded with a smile. "Yes, exactly. And it’s also how I knew more about you..."

June and Nyx stared at Ryan in surprise.

June asked, "You knew about... me?"

Ryan smiled. "I got to know about your skill."

June was speechless for a moment.

"You know about my manipulation...?"

Ryan nodded with a smile. "I can read through a lot." He folded his arms. "I just can’t help it."

June was speechless as he hugged himself. "You... how much do you know?"

Ryan laughed at his reaction.

June sighed. "So that’s why you weren’t so curious. You already knew." He shook his head. "You... You really are something."

Ryan smiled. "I can’t help it..."

June leaned closer. "What more do you know...?"

Ryan smiled before sighing. "Not much, though. Although I can tell that Nyx’s F-rank energy is abnormal, I can’t read through it. It’s the same way I can’t predict an anomaly dungeon since its energy isn’t stable..."

June nodded. "Oh, that makes sense. That explains why you couldn’t help much in the previous anomaly dungeons..."

Ryan nodded with a sigh. "But at least I can tell that your energy is most compatible with Nyx’s, and that the two of you kiss to work better."

"..."

June and Nyx were rather shocked by this revelation. They stared at Ryan before turning to each other in disbelief.

"You..." June flushed as he stammered, "What are you even talking about...?"

His cheeks grew even redder.

Ryan smiled innocently. "Just stating my observations."

"Don’t talk..." June snapped.

He quickly changed the topic. "But it really is a cool skill. And I guess it’s powerful enough, given you’re an S-rank after all..."

Ryan nodded with a smile. "I guess so..."

"Don’t worry. It’ll be between us. I won’t let anyone know about it. Promise."

Ryan nodded with a smile. "Thanks..."

June smiled back before spreading his arms toward Ryan.

"Want a hug? Poor Ryan must have been lonely all these years..."

Ryan smiled and accepted the hug. The two of them warmly embraced as June patted him firmly on the back.

"Don’t worry, I’m here now. You now have a bestie to talk about all your unhinged BL ideas with. Okay?" June said as Ryan smiled.

"Thank you, I guess," Ryan replied.

The two of them laughed while still hugging.

Nyx stood there with both hands in his pockets, quietly watching them. He remained calm at first, but as they continued hugging for longer than necessary, his expression slowly changed.

He suddenly grew jealous.

"It’s okay..." Nyx said as he pulled the two of them apart. "You don’t have to hug for that long..."

June and Ryan sat there, staring at Nyx, who had awkwardly torn them apart from their hug.

Ryan smiled.

"What? Are you jealous?"

"Jealous? Why would I be...?" Nyx cleared his throat, trying to play it cool.

But Ryan only shook his head with a smile.

"I guess you’re jealous that I’ll steal your precious boyfriend," he teased.

June and Nyx were both surprised.