Chapter 233: Ch 233: Assignment Mistake - Part 4

The research team welcomed him with the same enthusiasm as last time. Somehow, they looked even more tired today than they had yesterday, but their smiles looked brighter.

Noah had a feeling that they had made a breakthrough that they were not sharing with him.

Instead of feeling happy for them, all Noah felt was contempt and disgust as he watched their happy faces. He wanted to destroy this research, but he could not act on his instincts.

For now, he stood beside the researchers and watched them work on their assignment.

It was a boring and thankless task where all he had to do was keep an eye on things and make sure nothing bad happened.

But unlike yesterday, no one asked him to do anything. He simply stood there and waited for time to pass.

Noah headed towards the elevator to return to his quarters when he noticed that people were paying attention to him today.

They were looking at him and gossiping about him. He could even hear them without sharpening his senses since their whispers were quite loud.

"Hey, isn’t that the B-class guide who got special permission?"

"Man, I am so jealous of him. He has such a cushy job in the labs. All he has to do is stand there. Meanwhile, I have to roll around in the field, and I’m an A-class guide."

"Give it up, man. Life is unfair for people like us."

More than a few people complained. In fact, Noah doubted there was a single person here who was not talking about him.

And yet, despite all this, he decided not to pay them any attention and headed back towards Alan and Daniel’s quarters.

He wanted to rest before he had to work the next day.

And speaking of work... it was weird how Alan and Daniel had not been given any heavy assignments until now. Based on the story of the future he had seen, they should have been busy with the dungeons.

Even in his recent vision, the two had been busy, so it was about time for them to be deployed regularly.

News of their deployment came during dinner, delivered by a sulky Daniel.

"It seems like we’ll have to go back to the field. We’ll make sure to finish the dungeons quickly and come back in time for dinner. But if we’re not here, we’ll make sure to stock up on food for you. So make sure you eat, alright?"

Daniel’s voice sounded as though he were trying hard to suppress his rage. He clearly did not want to go back out into the field, but he seemed to have no choice.

However, Noah was more afraid of Alan’s smile. He looked as though he were plotting something behind that polite smile.

Once Alan saw that Noah had noticed him smiling, he widened his smile, making it look even more innocent. But the damage had already been done, and Noah felt a shiver go down his spine.

"I see. Well, stay safe out there, alright? I know you’re both powerful and strong, but there is no telling what might happen in the field. I’ll be at the labs if you need me, too."

He assured them with a smile, wanting Alan and Daniel to feel more reassured about him. But the way they were looking at Noah made him nervous, and he quickly looked down.

Somehow, Noah had a feeling that he would be devoured if he kept looking at the pair like this.

He quickly finished his dinner and went to his room to sleep.

Alone.

But once again, when he woke up the next morning, he was surrounded by the two and had a hard time getting out of bed.

...

After breakfast, an unhappy Daniel and a sulky Alan finally left through the door to attend to their own duties. It was time for Noah to head to the same research lab for the third day in a row.

The scientists who saw him enter rolled their eyes and continued working. They were getting used to his presence as well.

But just like the regular employees, the scientists had their own theories about why he kept getting assigned there.

Noah doubted anyone would come and talk to him, so he sat in the corner. However, he was quickly proven wrong when one of the scientists approached him.

The curious man had decided that he wanted to get to the bottom of things, and unlike the espers and guides of the association, the scientists were quick to act on their curiosity.

The researcher pulled a chair over and sat down in front of Noah, studying him with an expression that was far too curious for Noah’s liking.

Unlike the other employees who had merely whispered about him from a distance, this man seemed determined to get an answer, and he did not appear to be someone who would give up simply because Noah refused to cooperate.

"Tell me, why are you being assigned to our team every day? You’re a B-class guide, aren’t you? There should be plenty of other places where you could be useful, so why do they keep sending you here?"

Noah blinked at him before giving a helpless shrug.

"I’m afraid I don’t know. I only receive the assignments through my communicator, and I have no authority over where I’m sent."

"Surely someone must have told you something. Did you ask for this assignment yourself? Or is there someone in the association who is helping you?"

The researcher leaned closer, his tone becoming increasingly insistent as he tried to draw an answer out of Noah, but Noah merely looked back at him with an innocent expression.

He could understand why the man was suspicious, especially when Noah himself would have questioned the circumstances if their positions had been reversed, but that did not mean he could reveal anything.

"I really don’t know. I’m a new employee, so I’m still learning how the association works. I assumed that someone must have had a reason for assigning me here."

Noah repeated, keeping his voice polite.

The researcher frowned, clearly dissatisfied with the answer, and Noah could almost see the questions multiplying in his mind.

However, before he could press Noah any further, another researcher called out to him from across the room, demanding his assistance with something urgent.

The man hesitated before finally standing up, though he gave Noah one last suspicious look.

Noah watched him leave and quietly sighed, already wondering how much longer he could keep pretending that these assignments were nothing more than an inconvenience.