The SSS-rank Guide Doesn't Need Saving

"No!"

Irene’s voice was raised before she could stop herself. The softness in her expression slipped for just a second before she caught herself quickly, pressing a hand over her mouth as she hurriedly stopped herself from continuing her outburst.

But it was too late. Her voice was too loud and clear for them to ignore.

The girls beside her looked at her, and even Erika stared at her in surprise, definitely wondering what had happened for her youngest daughter to react uncharacteristically. Irene had never raised her voice. Never done it before, even when someone bullied her. Her tears would flow, and she would silently swallow any grievances she suffered.

It was this very same reason that their entire family tried so hard to protect her from any harm. They were always worried she would find herself dragged by someone with malicious intent.

"That... I was just shocked that Aisha would say that. After all, Mother already allowed me to stay in Grandmother’s room after my birthday."

Aisha, however, wasn’t fooled by her excuses. The panic that briefly flashed across Irene’s face was satisfying to see.

To be honest, she didn’t expect Irene to have such a deep attachment to that room.

Aisha, understood why, of course. After inheriting the memories stored inside this body, she knew exactly what that room represented. It was different from the dozens of other rooms inside the mansion.

The easy wing had originally belonged to their grandmother, Seraphina Novalis.

Seraphina had been one of the most celebrated guides the empire had ever produced. She was an S-rank with a purification rate of 86 percent, so that entire fleets from other planets would venture to their planet to request her service. Her skills made her indispensable and were constantly away to be deployed to the most dangerous outposts where cosmic corruption ran thickest.

Years would have gone by before she could visit home. Despite that, whenever she was home, the easy wing would be the room where she stayed. All her belongings and materials she got from traveling far away were placed inside her room.

And before she’d been called away on her most recent deployment, their grandmother had told everyone her intention of letting Aisha live there when she wasn’t around.

But Aisha Novalis disdained the room. To her, who grew up with nothing but the finest, the clutter and unidentifiable objects in her grandmother’s room were not worthy of her attention.

The Novalis family also thought they shouldn’t let her live there. After all, Aisha was nothing but a D-rank. Who knows if she ended up doing something that would end up ruining their grandmother’s things and offending the old lady?

And it was only when Irene awakened and received a high rank as a guide that they finally allowed someone to stay there. What the matriarch of the family had said before was completely forgotten. All they could think about was giving Irene everything she asked for.

Anyway, both daughters are her grandchildren. The old matriarch will surely favor the youngest who succeeded in her footsteps, right?

After Aisha’s actions, which brought only disappointment and shame to their family, they no longer even consider that room hers anymore.

Erika’s gaze flicked helplessly between her two daughters. Irene was looking at her with gentleness and affection that no other child had given her. On the other hand, Aisha stood on her side with an unnervingly calm demeanor.

Between the two, Erika softened her heart toward Irene.

However—

"Mom," Aisha called her.

Erika turned her gaze to her and heard Aisha say, "You remember your promise, right?"

"Promise...? That’s right. I did promise you’ll get to choose what room you want to stay in." Erika responded as though she had finally set her mind on fulfilling her side of the promise. She then turned to Irene, who looked shocked and crestfallen, and gently patted her head. "Irene, why don’t you stay with me in my room?"

Irene opened her mouth, beginning to pout before she said, "But I’m already an adult. Why doesn’t sister stay with you? I think she’ll need Mother more than I do after what happened."

It was the first time she complained, but her voice was too sweet for anyone to think anything was wrong with what she said. Rather, they were instantly won by her pout.

Erika hugged her tightly. "Your sister just got discharged from the hospital. And Aisha said that the doctors advised her that she’d recover quickly if her rest were not interrupted. So, I can’t do that."

Irene couldn’t say anything to that. Lowering her eyes, she bit back the bitterness she felt and nodded stiffly. "...Alright, Mother. "If that will help her recover. Then, I won’t stop her from taking my room."

Erika was delighted by how understanding her youngest daughter was. She was already thinking about giving her a present and also making sure they spend a lot of mother-daughter moments while staying in the same room.

"Mother, I remember I still have to shop outside with my friends."

Irene turned around to face her friends, forcing a smile onto her lips.

"Don’t stay out too late. You and your sister still need to go back to the academy tomorrow."

Irene nodded stiffly, unable to keep the same affectionate look on her face in front of her mother.

But Aisha, who had been silently watching the two of them, stepped closer to Irene. She raised her hand and slipped it through Irene’s hair, caressing the strands between her fingers.

"Thank you, Irene," Aisha said while smiling sweetly, though her eyes remained cold and indifferent. "I won’t ever forget your good intentions."

Irene’s eyes widened in shock, but before she could say something in reply, Aisha had already walked far from her and was moving upstairs with her maid.

"Irene? Are you okay?"

Wetting her dry lips, Irene nodded. "Yes, I’m fine. Let’s go."

Although she said that, her heart was beating fast in her chest. All the way out, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about Aisha, but she couldn’t exactly tell what it was.

Once they were on the second floor, Daisy gleefully praised Aisha. "Miss, you’re really amazing! They tore your room down, but you took Miss Irene’s room instead! She must be crying right now!"

Daisy has always been Aisha’s number one supporter. Even if Aisha had done shameful acts in the past, she never changed her mind about her young miss. Although Aisha was always distant and spiteful, she had never truly harmed anyone.

Rather, it was all because Irene was always crying whenever the two of them faced off that Aisha looked petty and scornful.

"Daisy."

Aisha abruptly stopped walking.

She turned around and looked at Daisy with a serious look in her eyes. "It won’t be good for you if anyone hears you. So, make sure you are careful of what you say." She paused before letting a smile touch her lips. "And it’s not Irene’s. It has always been Grandmother’s room."

Aisha was worried that Daisy’s unrestrained words might get her hurt someday. She’s still a maid employed by the Novalis family. Aisha didn’t want to be implicated in the future, so being careful of what she says will make her safer.

In fact, Aisha had no plans to stay in this house.

She was just waiting for the perfect time to leave without leaving any regrets.