Chapter 147: Ch 147: Aren’t you curious? - Part 2

Erin’s words were enough to make Alan stagger, and he took a step back in shock while clutching his head.

"No, that is not true. I did not...I am not...stop lying—"

"But am I lying? You must have noticed it as well—Noah gets pale every time you go near him. It’s because his body has started to feel the pressure of your abilities, and in order to guide you, it has started to exhaust itself."

Lying came as naturally to Erin as breathing, but he drew no pleasure from it.

If anything, his mouth felt dry after speaking like this about Noah of all people. He felt guilty and sick for saying all this.

But this was needed if he wanted Noah to break free from these chains of duty that bound him.

"Hey, stop messing around or I—"

"Alan, calm down. Let’s hear what Professor Erin has to say a little more. I am sure he has a reason behind his words."

Daniel, who had been quiet all this time, finally spoke up. He placed a hand on Alan’s arm, and his guiding actively bound Alan in place.

The angry esper felt his rampage starting to get under control, but he was not thankful. He even ended up yanking his arm out of Daniel’s grip once he felt satisfied with the progress.

Erin saw this all happen with a neutral expression on his face. But once the opportunity presented itself, he did not hesitate to strike.

"You both seem perfect for each other. Not only are you the same grade, but you even have a faithful connection. So why not take advantage of this? Why do you want to put Noah at risk with your presence—"

"I understand what you want to say, but I cannot agree. I do understand what problem Alan’s presence has on Noah, but what about mine? I am a fellow guide and—"

"You won’t do either. Both you and Alan have started your bond formation. Or rather, you both started it a long time ago, but you were never able to continue before you were separated during your childhood. This caused your bond to get confused, and now it is drawing an innocent victim into your mess."

Erin twisted the past a little in order to present his case. He could read suspicion and weariness in the eyes of the pair in front of him.

He already knew that these two wouldn’t accept what he had to say this easily, but their interest was a welcoming sign.

"What do you mean by this? We met in this academy, and our connection is a sour one. How can you even say this—"

"I looked into you both with means you cannot even think of, and I found out some stuff you are not even aware of yourself. You were both adopted into your current families, right? Then, do you have any memory of where you lived before that? I looked into it and found out a lot more than you think. That is when your ill-fated connection began."

Erin conveniently left out the part where Noah was a part of their past as well and condensed it into the pair’s focus.

They instantly looked like they wanted to kill him. But they also looked curious at the same time.

"Are you saying...that we are from the same orphanage? And not only that, but we started our bond there?"

Daniel asked in a low but curious voice, and Erin smiled and nodded at him.

"That is what I am saying. If you think I am lying, then you should ask yourself truly—do you really not know each other from before? Does looking at each other not invoke any sense of familiarity inside your mind?"

Erin’s power flowed through his words. As an SSS-class esper, he had the power to influence others.

Of course, the influence was much weaker on his fellow SSS-class people, but it was still effective. He could feel that the seeds he was planting were starting to take root.

"What bullshit. I don’t believe you—"

"Then I can guide you to investigate more about your past. I can also provide you all the help you need. However, it will be a dangerous affair. So I only have one request—please leave Noah out of this. He is far too fragile to be pulled into this nonsense."

This was another lie. Noah was the strongest person Erin knew. If anything, he was the best choice to investigate this case.

But since Erin was doing all this to keep Noah out of the mess, there was no way he was going to tell this to the pair in front of him.

Silence followed his suggestion before Alan started to laugh. He looked like a madman when he did this, but Erin kept a smile on his face.

"I see. Is this a ploy by you to keep us away from Noah? Do you truly think I will fall for this so easily?"

Alan asked, but doubt was starting to take root in his mind.

Erin did not need to do anything else from here on. He was sure the pair would take care of it themselves.

"It is up to you. All I know is that your past always catches up to you when you least expect it to. If you truly want to be around Noah, then at least handle your affairs properly and stop putting him in danger."

"What do you mean by this? Are you saying that what happened had something to do with our past—"

"I am not saying anything anymore. From here on, it is for you to figure out yourself. I will take my leave now. Do think about what I said up until now and all of what you have witnessed with your own eyes. The conclusion you reach will likely be correct."

All the seeds of doubt have been planted, and now it was time to watch them blossom.

Honestly, Erin did feel sorry for Alan and Daniel as well since they were victims. But if he needed to exploit them in order to save Noah, then he would.