Chapter 60
“What?”
“What do you mean, ‘what?’ This is an absolutely incredible ability!”
Why did I forget about this?
The fact that one of my companions is a super-ultra-mega-hyper-hit-class healer!
Instead of drinking potions, I could have just asked Yeriel for help.
I lovingly gazed at the glittering Lily of the Valley emitting a soft glow before I swallowed it without hesitation.
The flower dissolved into fine powder as soon as it entered my mouth and seeped into my body.
Swish, swish…
In an instant, my twisted organs returned to their proper places, and the dizziness clouding my head cleared entirely.
Internally, I let out a triumphant cheer.
‘This should be enough to get me walking again.’
[Wendy Porcelain]
- Health: 10/15
- Strength: 7/13
- Agility: 12/18
- Magic Power: 12/14
The stats had noticeably improved.
For just one flower to have this much effect…
The remaining deficiencies could either be covered by Yeriel’s help or healed with recovery potions later on.
I had been worried I’d still need to ride the palanquin even after arriving at Wind Base, but—
‘That won’t be necessary now.’
Jumping lightly off the palanquin, I stretched, relishing the sensation of solid ground beneath my feet for the first time in a while.
“Ahhhhhh.”
Indeed, people need to move to feel alive.
As the saying goes, lying idle turns you into a cow.
Walking across the soft, lush grass, I loosened my stiff muscles before tilting my head in curiosity.
Come to think of it, all the others who went to Thunder Base with Yeriel seemed to be here, but—
‘Where did that Xenon guy wander off to?’
“Yeriel, do you know where Xenon is?”
“Ah, Xenon… uh…”
“…?”
“He asked me not to tell, but he said he’d be back soon…”
“‘Soon,’ you say?”
“Eek, if you keep looking at me like that, I won’t be able to keep quiet…”
Yeriel scratched his head, wearing an awkward expression, before leaning in to whisper.
“He’s at the flower field.”
“The flower field?”
Yeriel nodded and pointed to a patch of greenery not far from here.
‘Xenon…?’
Xenon and a flower field? Nothing could be more incompatible.
Sure, the first gift he gave me was a flower bracelet, but…
That’s why it was even more shocking.
If he had instead presented me with a bracelet forged from bent steel, I’d have been less surprised.
The curiosity was unbearable.
What was he doing?
If it were the Xenon I knew, he’d probably be slicing petals in mid-air for practice.
“I’ll leave it to you guys to rest while I check.”
A mischievous grin spread across my face as I decided to surprise him.
I crept quietly toward the flower field in the middle of the bushes.
Soon, beyond the gently swaying wildflowers, I stumbled upon an entirely unexpected sight.
“Huh?”
I’d expected him to be swinging a sword, yet there he was, sitting casually with no sign of tension.
He was using his long, sturdy hands to fiddle with something, his back turned to me.
I tilted my head at the unusual sight, but it didn’t stop me from grinning mischievously and sneaking closer.
What kind of expression would that stoic guy make if I startled him with a loud “Boo!”?
Just as I was about to shout after approaching him—
“Who told you?”
Xenon’s calm voice rang out as though he had known all along.
“It must’ve been Yeriel. That guy’s no good at lying or keeping secrets.”
His words drained all the excitement out of me.
“What? How did you know?”
“A hunter’s senses are sharp.”
Ah, that’s right. He used to be a hunter.
I had tried to be as stealthy as possible, but…
Well, hunters can spot rabbits hiding in bushes, so my footsteps must have been child’s play.
“…And I’ve memorized the sound of your footsteps.”
He slowly turned to look at me, his eyes meeting mine, sending an inexplicable tingle through me.
“Ahem.”
I coughed awkwardly, trying to shift the topic.
“What were you doing?”
“Practicing.”
Xenon replied bluntly, lifting the object he had been working on.
“Since you didn’t reject the bracelet, I decided to practice making necklaces next.”
Sky blue, violet, and pink wildflowers had been delicately woven into a charming flower necklace.
“How does it look?”
Xenon glanced at me while fiddling with the necklace nonchalantly.
‘This guy…’
Why does he always do such unexpected things, leaving my heart in disarray?
Like the tangled stems of the wildflowers he had woven, my thoughts were all jumbled.
Before I knew it, my face had turned crimson.
Xenon stared at my flushed face and muttered softly.
“You give out gifts so freely, yet you’re not used to receiving them, huh?”
In the end, I let him put the flower necklace around my neck, brushing my burning cheeks as I sighed.
“Well, I didn’t expect to get one from you.”
“Why not?”
“That’s…”
Now that I thought about it, Xenon was the only one who had ever given me a gift.
He even mentioned making something prettier after practicing more.
I hesitated for a moment before sighing and giving a small nod of acknowledgment.
“…Thanks.”
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Xenon’s lips.
Ugh, how infuriatingly smug.
“Even if it’s frustrating, gratitude is gratitude.”
No matter how annoying he is, it’s still true that I’m thankful.
But honestly—
Why a flower necklace of all things?
Does he want to turn me into a walking bouquet?
The thought of his calloused hands carefully crafting such a delicate item made me smirk as I lightly brushed the necklace Xenon had given me.
Soft petals tickled my fingertips, stirring a peculiar warmth in my chest.
The texture was so light and gentle that it felt like touching a fairy’s blanket.
Lost in the pleasant sensation, I was smiling faintly when a notification window suddenly appeared, making my expression harden.
[The White Faction has captured the Heaven Base!]
[The White Faction has captured the Mountain Base!]
Two notifications popped up in rapid succession.
Both bases were located to the northwest and northeast.
In the Bagua system, Heaven represents the sky, and Mountain represents a mountain.
Since their constellation, Archangel Michael, specializes in the heavens, it makes sense for them to first secure the most advantageous Heaven Base and then the nearby Mountain Base.
The simultaneous notifications suggested they, like us, had split into groups to strategize.
If that’s the case, their next target was obvious:
They’d go after Water Base, located between Heaven and Mountain.
And after that, they’d head straight for the Celestial Apex.
At least, until we reached the Celestial Apex, we wouldn’t have to face them.
“Let’s go back.”
Xenon, his expression now cold, called to me.
“Wait a moment.”
I stopped him just before he moved and retrieved something from my inventory.
“I wanted to bury this nearby.”
Xenon tilted his head when he saw the green ribbon in my hand.
“What’s that?”
“This… well, it’s…”
How should I explain it?
After a brief pause, I decided to be honest.
There was no point in hiding it when the others could easily reveal the truth.
“Actually…”
With a deep sigh, I recounted everything.
The events that had unfolded at Fire Base:
How Sienna had sacrificed herself during the Phoenix’s rampage.
How Lyria’s awakening had miraculously saved us.
Of course, I downplayed my role a bit—just a little.
I emphasized Lyria’s bravery while making it seem like I was safely waiting at the altar.
When I finished, I glanced at Xenon.
His brows twitched intensely, but his response was calm:
“I see.”
It was more subdued than I expected.
I thought he’d explode with anger, berating me for being reckless with my life.
Perhaps he’s fine as long as I’m alive?
“Right? I couldn’t just leave it behind, so I brought this ribbon as a token…”
“Let me help.”
Xenon cut me off, his tone nonchalant as he drew his sword.
With a single powerful swing—
Swish!
The blade carved out a perfectly round hole in the ground.
“You can bury it here.”
“Huh?”
I stared at the scene, dumbfounded.
I was considering buying a shovel from the Magic Cart, but he solved it so effortlessly?
“Thank you.”
I expressed my gratitude, then knelt down and gently placed the ribbon into the hole.
“I’ll cover it for you.”
Xenon’s words made me nod slightly as I watched him fill the hole with dirt.
All things eventually return to the earth—that saying felt so true now.
As the vibrant green ribbon disappeared under the soil, a sharp pain pricked my chest.
Once the last clumps of dirt were smoothed out, the mound resembled a modest grave.
It was a simple, temporary resting place, but I prayed silently for her spirit to find peace in a better place.
And for her to live out her dreams in the next life.
“That’s it.”
Finishing my short prayer, I turned to leave.
It was strange.
I thought I’d be fine before creating the grave, but now—
‘I feel nauseous.’
Seeing the grave filled me with bitterness and a heavy sense of loss.
Sienna had been a companion, even if briefly and under challenging circumstances.
And more than anything—
She reminded me so much of myself.
Her loneliness, her insecurities, her will to survive, her longing for life—everything.
Perhaps that’s why this lonely grave felt eerily like my own funeral.
“Let’s go.”
I spoke, looking at Xenon beside me.
“Hurry.”
Grabbing his arm to pull him along, I noticed he stood there, unmoving like a statue.
‘What’s with him?’
Tilting my head, I looked up at him.
Xenon stared at my face intently for a moment before asking again, unusually soft:
“Are you really okay?”
The sudden question made me nod slowly.
And then—
Something warm and firm pressed against my left cheek.
“You, you’re crying.”
—
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