First Interstellar Guide Chapter 15: Return

Chapter 15: Return

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

Yu Ran enjoyed a few days of leisure at the guide academy. During the day, he would go to the library to read, and at night, he would return to the dormitory to sleep on time. On the surface, he appeared to be a new student at the guide academy, naive and curious. He knew that the dean, Xie Shiyi, had been observing him in secret, and Dean Xie hadn’t dispelled his suspicions— but it didn’t matter, he wouldn’t let the other party find any leverage against him.

On January 6th, Yu Ran went to the library as usual and spent the whole day reading. At dinner time, just as he was about to go to the cafeteria with his student ID card, suddenly, his communicator rang, and he heard the voice of the guard in his ear, “Student Yu Ran, someone is here to see you. He’s waiting for you at the east gate of the guide academy.”

Who could be here to see him? If it was Mrs. Joseph, she would have come in directly, not waited outside. Visitors who weren’t allowed into the guide academy were usually sentinels. Lu Zexuan? Besides General Lu, Yu Ran couldn’t think of anyone else who would come to see him. This sentinel was really persistent.

Yu Ran quickly adjusted his expression, pretending to be happy as he ran to the school gate. The tall sentinel was indeed waiting for him there. Lu Zexuan wasn’t wearing his military uniform today, but instead wore simple trousers and a sweater, topped with a light gray coat, which made him seem much more approachable than usual.  His face was still excessively handsome, with sharp features and a well-built figure that made anything he wore exude grace.

Yu Ran hurried over to him, his cheeks slightly flushed. “Why did you suddenly come to see me?”

Lu Zexuan looked at the teenager who was a head shorter than himself and said gently, “You don’t need to use formal language with me, nor do you need to call me ‘sir’. I’m only a few years older than you, right?”

As he said this, the man’s deep eyes gazed quietly at Yu Ran, and the white eagle on his shoulder also tilted its head to look at Yu Ran.

Yu Ran felt no guilt at all, he scratched his head awkwardly and smiled, “Alright, I’ll listen to you, General.”

No longer ‘sir’, but ‘General’ now.

As an orphan from a humble background, it was normal for him to feel pressured when interacting with sentinels like Lu Zexuan.

Lu Zexuan didn’t dwell on this, turning around and saying, “Let’s go, I’ll treat you to dinner.”

Yu Ran was a bit surprised, “Dinner?”

Lu Zexuan’s reason was quite sufficient, “Our compatibility rate is as high as 98%. I just want to get to know you better. The guide academy hasn’t officially started yet, so you don’t need to ask for permission from the teachers. It’s okay to have a meal with me, right?”

After a moment of thought, Yu Ran nodded and said, “Okay.”

Lu Zexuan drove over in a black private car. He considerately opened the door for Yu Ran and let him sit in the back seat, while he sat next to Yu Ran.

This advanced vehicle was equipped with automatic navigation and driving systems. Lu Zexuan didn’t need to manually control it. After getting in the car, he proactively poured a glass of water for Yu Ran and asked in a gentle tone, “Are you already used to living in the dormitory at the guide academy?”

Yu Ran took the water and drank a few sips, nodding. “The dormitory conditions are very good, much bigger than my home. But, I still don’t know who my roommates are.” Yu Ran smiled shyly and said with some concern, “I’m already 18 years old, while the other students are only 13. Will they find it strange that I’m such an older student?”

Lu Zexuan said, “It’s not strange. The guide academy has several older students every year.” He paused and asked, “Do you know how old the oldest student in history was?”

Yu Ran guessed curiously, “Was he 30 years old?”

Lu Zexuan said, “It was a 65-year-old grandfather who awakened too late and retired after finishing school.”

Yu Ran was speechless.

Lu Zexuan’s joke was a bit cold. However, Yu Ran still smiled along with it. When he smiled, a dimple would appear at the corner of his mouth, making him look particularly adorable.

Lu Zexuan looked at Yu Ran in front of him, thinking about the dark guide mentioned by Meredith, limb regeneration… A sharp pain pierced his heart, and he couldn’t associate the small guide in front of him with those words.

Lu Zexuan didn’t say anything more, and the two of them remained silent all the way.

Outside, the buildings became increasingly familiar. Yu Ran remained calm on the surface, but a hint of unease gradually rose in his heart… Where was he taking me? The car finally stopped at the rooftop parking lot of the Hogarth Hotel. This was one of the most luxurious hotels in the Federation, shaped like a towering tree reaching into the sky.

The most famous feature of this hotel was that the annual Capital Star Graduates Exchange Ball was held here. At this event, outstanding sentinels and guides from various major universities on the Capital Star would meet, and if they found someone they liked, they could invite them to dance.

The dance floor was arranged on the top floor of the hotel, surrounded by flowers, like being in a romantic aerial garden. Countless couples had met and fallen in love at this hotel, making it a highly anticipated destination for young sentinels and guides.

Yu Ran looked out of the window, “This hotel is beautifully designed.”

Lu Zexuan casually remarked, “The top floor is even more beautiful. The Capital Star Graduates Exchange Ball is held there every year.”

When the “graduation ball” was mentioned, Yu Ran’s expression remained unchanged. He turned his head and looked at Lu Zexuan with sincere eyes, “The Capital Star Graduates Exchange Ball? What’s that?”

Lu Zexuan explained, “It’s a large-scale ball jointly organized by various major universities on the Capital Star. Outstanding sentinel and guide graduates are selected to participate. At the ball, if you meet someone you like, you can invite them to dance and exchange contact information for future communication.”

Yu Ran scratched his head and commented, “It sounds like a large-scale blind date. A bunch of people gathering to find partners, feels a bit awkward.”

Lu Zexuan asked, “You’re not interested in this ball?”

Yu Ran replied, “Not interested. I don’t like such lively occasions, and besides, as a C-rank guide, I’m not qualified to participate, right?”

Lu Zexuan looked at Yu Ran thoughtfully, unable to find any flaws in his expression or tone. Could it be that his own instincts were off? Or was it possible that there were two guide essences in the world that were so similar in scent that even he couldn’t distinguish between them?

After parking the car, Lu Zexuan took Yu Ran to the floating restaurant. This restaurant was very famous, with each private booth resembling a transparent bubble floating in the air. Sitting in the booth, you could see the most beautiful starry sky and the bustling night view of the Capital Star.

When Yu Ran entered the booth, exquisite food was already laid out on the table, with automatic heating devices under the plates to ensure the food stayed warm. This was the most suitable place on the Capital Star for a date. Couples could enjoy the night view while dining here, enjoying a romantic atmosphere together.

Yu Ran seemed unfamiliar with such a high-end place, not knowing where to put his hands and feet, looking somewhat awkward. Lu Zexuan spoke gently, “It’s okay, it’s just the two of us here, you don’t need to feel pressured. Today, I’m treating you to dinner. It’s not considered a date, just a chance for us to get to know each other better.” He handed a steak to Yu Ran in a gentlemanly manner, “You must be hungry, have some food. Try the steak here.”

Yu Ran lowered his head to eat the steak. As he tasted the delicious food, his expression gradually relaxed, and he said softly, “It’s delicious. When I was at Base B73, it was difficult to get such fresh beef.”

Lu Zexuan asked, “Have you lived at the base since you were a child?”

Yu Ran nodded, “Yeah, my dad worked for the mineral company, and my mom ran a cake shop. I’ve lived at Base B73 since I can remember, and I’ve never traveled anywhere else.” He seemed a bit embarrassed, his face turning red as he said, “I’ve never seen many things in the Capital Star before, and this kind of hotel is also my first time…”

Listening to his description, Lu Zexuan’s mood was complex. Every time he saw Yu Ran in person, looking into his clear eyes, seeing his shy smile, Lu Zexuan couldn’t connect this innocent and sincere young man with “Dark Guides.” However, every time he thought about Yu Ran’s guide essence, and the recent mysterious deaths of several sentinels, the seeds of doubt in Lu Zexuan’s heart would grow wildly.

It was truly contradictory.

With a sigh in his heart, Lu Zexuan said softly, “Yu Ran, no one can choose their background. But the choice of your future path is yours.”

This sentence carried profound meaning, but Yu Ran earnestly replied, “I know.”

Lu Zexuan then asked, “Since you awakened as a guide, do you have any plans for your future?”

Yu Ran thought for a moment and said, “After graduating from the Sanctuary, I want to take the entrance exam for the guide medical program at the Federation’s top military academy, like Mohr, and become a military doctor.”

Lu Zexuan looked at him in surprise, “A military doctor? That job is very demanding and dangerous.”

Yu Ran replied earnestly, “It’s okay. I’ve heard that there are many low-ranking sentinels on the front lines who can’t get treatment from guides and suffer mental torment. Since I’m only a C-rank guide, staying and working in the Capital Star wouldn’t be of much use. If I can use my abilities to help them, wouldn’t that be more meaningful?”

Lu Zexuan fell silent. If Yu Ran truly thought like this, then he must be a kind-hearted person.

The imbalance in the ratio of guides to sentinels was severe. Some low-ranking sentinels spent their entire lives without encountering a guide, without experiencing a mental grooming. Those with weaker self-control might even go berserk or devolve into irrational monsters. Lu Zexuan had seen too many sacrificed sentinels on the front lines. However, compared to the harsh conditions and constant danger of those areas, most guides preferred the comfortable life of the Capital Star.

Although Lu Zexuan said on the surface, “I won’t take my partner to the battlefield,” deep down, he was very eager to meet a guide partner who would fight side by side with him. A person who would be willing to face all dangers with him. Hand in hand, accompanying each other. He would use his life to protect them.

Mohr was four years older than Lu Zexuan and had served in the Eagle Special Forces for a full eight years. According to the guide association’s regulations, he would retire this year and return to work in a hospital on the Capital Star. The guide accompanying the Eagle Special Forces team currently had no designated replacement.

However, Yu Ran’s mental energy level of C-rank was far from meeting the standards to join the elite ranks of the “Eagle Special Forces.” Unless Lu Zexuan applied for a special exemption based on the “98% match,” allowing Yu Ran to accompany him, the military could make exceptions—after all, even with slightly lower mental energy, such high match rates could still be crucial in saving lives in critical moments.

Should he bring Yu Ran with him? Lu Zexuan furrowed his brow, but quickly dismissed the idea. The suspicion surrounding Yu Ran had not been completely dispelled. Bringing Yu Ran to the Eagle Special Forces would put all his comrades in danger, and he couldn’t do that.

As Lu Zexuan snapped back to reality, a message came through the communicator from the Federation Military Department, “Major General Lu Zexuan, the Sanctuary officially begins its semester on January 7th. Please attend the opening ceremony of the Sentinel Academy as a representative of the military department and deliver a speech at the ceremony.”

Lu Zexuan was speechless. The opening ceremony? Over the years, the Sentinel Academy had invited him a few times to be a guest, but he was too busy with his duties and never had the time to go back. This time, with his annual leave, the higher-ups had dispatched him as a representative, and he had no reason to refuse.

Lu Zexuan frowned and replied, “Understood.”

It felt strange. Why wasn’t it the school inviting him this time, but rather a direct order from the higher-ups?