Aiton: Sir... what's going on?

After pushing through a crowd of uniformed soldiers and enduring their intense stares, I finally reached the personal rest room Preman had mentioned. Inside, an officer waiting there spoke up.

Preman: That's a question I should be asking you, Aiton. Among the laborers, only Aibin knew we’d encountered a Molehog before, right?

Aiton: ...!?

At the mention of Aibin’s name, Aiton’s expression darkened slightly.

Preman: As far as I know, that beast was diverted from our path by scouts using Wish Power before the main force departed.

Preman: Aibin was in charge of supplying those scouts back then. No one else besides him and our scout unit could have known.

Preman: Your brother Aibin... his ability could lure that beast here. And he has a history of it.

Aiton: Sir...

Preman: Without solid evidence, I won’t hold him accountable. But he likely did this knowing that.

Aiton: Sir, I’ll discipline him later.

Preman: Enough. Let’s drop this.

Aiton: Yes. Then...

Preman: Hm?

Aiton: Why did you bring Seventh Ju here?

Seventh Ju: ............

I also wanted to know why I was brought here.

On the way, Preman stayed silent except for saying he’d take me to the rest room to talk. I couldn’t fathom his thoughts at all.

But after a moment’s thought, I realized my earlier statement had serious flaws.

The biggest gap was the time between when I was attacked and when Li Weishe rescued me.

I couldn’t explain what happened during those tens of seconds, so everyone was naturally skeptical.

Had I known, I should’ve prepared a better explanation.

But...

Preman: You may leave now, Aiton.

Aiton: ............

Preman: What? Worried he threatens me?

Aiton: No... I understand.

Thus, only Preman and I remained in the simple wooden hut.

Preman: Seventh Ju.

Seventh Ju: ...Yes.

Preman: Time to tell the truth now, isn’t it?

Seventh Ju: Uh... the truth?

Preman smiled easily, dropping his officer’s demeanor and adopting an elegant, understanding posture.

Seeing Preman’s excessively handsome face up close, I suddenly felt an unexpected tension.

Huh? Why am I nervous just being alone with a guy?

Preman: Where did you cross paths with Aibin?

Seventh Ju: ...Oh, that. Last night, we... got acquainted, I suppose.

Preman: And he caused trouble because of his heavy drinking and bad temper?

Seventh Ju: Mm...

Preman: Haha, it happens often. If not for his excessive drinking and terrible alcohol tolerance, he’d be in the regular forces by now.

Seventh Ju: Oh, I see...

Preman: In ability, he’s not much worse than Aiton. Alcohol really is a destroyer of men.

Seventh Ju: Yeah, that’s true.

Preman: So, how did you win a direct fight with the Molehog?

Seventh Ju: Well, it’s—

Seventh Ju: ............

I almost slipped and said it out loud, caught up in Preman’s rhythm.

Preman: What wish did you make then?

Seventh Ju: ...

Seventh Ju: ............

Seventh Ju: Why...

Preman: “Why do you even know such things”?

Preman: About two years ago, I was allowed into the inner circle of the Divine Temple for pilgrimage, earning extra Wish Points.

Preman: The Divine Officer permitted me one forbidden wish.

Seventh Ju: A forbidden wish?

Preman: God’s Wish Points grant any wish, but the Divine Temple sees unauthorized wishes for “abilities tied directly to Wish Points” as divine transgressions.

Preman: They can’t tolerate擅自 wishing for things like peeking at others’ Wish Points or stealing them.

Preman: Under the Divine Officer’s guidance, I gained one such Wish Power...

Preman: “The ability to know changes in others’ Wish Points.”

Seventh Ju: ............

Preman: Seventh Ju, I have a photographic memory for faces. I recall clearly our first meeting.

Preman: My Wish Power tells me your current Wish Points differ from back then.

Seventh Ju: ............

Preman: Ah? Don’t be scared. If this frightens you, my other abilities might make you faint.

Seventh Ju: ...That statement alone is enough to make someone faint.

Preman: It’s not hard to imagine—you were ambushed by that beast while wishing.

Preman: Given the noise a Molehog makes underground, anyone would’ve fled long before.

Preman: Though fierce in attack, Molehogs move very slowly.

Preman: ...Perhaps it only meant to scare you, but things escalated.

Seventh Ju: I...

Preman: Ah, it’s fine if you won’t tell me your wish.

Preman: But your body...

Preman gripped my shoulders, his firm hold searching meticulously.

His hands slid down my arms, then to my chest, abdomen...

He felt me as if inspecting a precision instrument.

I thought bathing naked with guys in the wild was bad enough. Now, being touched like this by a pretty boy my age...

Worse, I didn’t feel disgusted at all!

Realizing this, I suddenly felt disgusted with myself!!

Seventh Ju: Hey...

Preman: Let me guess—what ability could do this?

Preman: Physical strength? No... without hundreds of points, it’s utterly impossible.

Preman: Luck? Could luck lift a crate three times heavier during the test?

Preman: No, it must be strength-related.

As he spoke, his hands passed my waist and encircled my thighs.

Having a guy crouch down and stroke my thighs—this is my absolute limit! My bottom line!!

Seventh Ju: Um...

Preman: Seventh Ju, during the autopsy, Aiton found severe internal damage and fractures in the Molehog’s chest.

Preman: Even without Li Weishe shooting its ears and brain, it would’ve died slowly from those injuries.

Preman: Combined with your torn shirt and the fluid on you, the full story is this...

Preman: —You were ambushed while wishing. It clawed your left chest and bit your head. You injured it by striking its chest and broke free. Then Li Weishe killed it.

Preman: Am I right?

Seventh Ju: ............

I couldn’t refute it. Preman’s logic had no weak points.

To what extent had he accurately assessed me?

Preman: To achieve this, in body and ability, you surpass any of my subordinates.

Preman: I’ll say this—if every soldier had their head in a Molehog’s mouth, not one would escape alive.

Preman: So... Seventh Ju.

Preman looked up, his eyes gleaming with seriousness.

Preman: What exactly are you?

Seventh Ju: ............

Preman: I have a well-known Wish Power: “the ability to sense threatening traps and their opposites.”

Seventh Ju: ...“and their opposites.”

Preman: As a commander, even for frontier forces, this ability is essential.

Preman: Since planning this mission, it’s activated more than ever...

Preman: So often... I can’t tell traps from “opposite” situations anymore.

The serious gleam in his eyes dimmed, revealing clear fatigue.

Preman: I’ll be blunt, Seventh Ju.

Preman: I’ll keep you where I can reach you anytime, to verify my suspicions.

Seventh Ju: Verify... what?

Preman: If you’re a trap, I’ll “neutralize” you.

Seventh Ju: ............

Seventh Ju: And if not?

Preman: If you’re the “opposite,” I must give you a better position.

Seventh Ju: A better position?

Preman stood, tidied his uniform, and walked out without looking back.

Preman: The real frontier expansion has begun up front. Threats from the environment and unknown creatures abound, alongside countless unseen opportunities and riches.

Preman: Anyway, first, try to taste what real frontier expansion is like.