Chapter 40
“Why?”
“…What do you mean, why?”
“Why are you looking for me?”
“Excuse me.”
Chaian ran his hand roughly through his disheveled hair and let out a deep sigh.
Was she seriously asking that?
“You—you knew this area was affected by the Black Forest, and you still went outside? Are you out of your mind?”
“And what’s that got to do with you?”
“What’s that got to do with me? Of course, it—!”
Of course, it… it…
“……”
Chaian suddenly lost his words, his lips pressing tightly together.
Now that the question was posed directly, he found himself unable to respond.
“Exactly.”
Why had he been so desperate to find her?
“Hey!”
But soon, a wave of indignation washed over him, and his eyes flared open again.
Weren’t they close now? Didn’t he come here regularly to drink tea and chat?
Weren’t they at least at the point where worrying about each other was normal? Wasn’t that how it was?
“Wow, this is really too much!”
As his thoughts swirled, the sense of injustice seemed to grow stronger, and Chaian’s complaints spilled out unchecked.
‘What is this? Are you Yulia, with that pouty mouth of yours?’
Watching him, Ceres shook her head lightly.
Annoying. How can a grown man sulk like a child yet still look so picturesque?
“Sit down. I’ll get you some tea.”
“…Tea?”
“Yes.”
Truthfully, she was somewhat grateful.
It wasn’t hard to guess why he’d been looking for her so frantically. Even though she feigned ignorance, she knew.
“…For free?”
“If you don’t want it, then forget it.”
“No! I’ll drink it!”
The pout from just moments ago disappeared, replaced by a bright smile on Chaian’s face.
That smile, with his teeth bared, was annoyingly dazzling.
“Lots of honey!”
“……”
It’s strange, isn’t it? He has such a knack for being a nuisance, yet somehow it’s not irritating.
‘And…’
Looking at him, someone kept coming to mind.
Was it because he was also a Tower Master? Or were all Tower Masters this cheerful?
‘Our Alti also had such a pretty smile.’
And he knew it too, always walking around with those eye-smiles. It used to drive Kainel crazy.
“Here. Drink.”
“Thanks!”
As Chaian took a sip of the honey-laden tea, his eyes crinkled into a soft smile. Ceres watched him quietly.
Noticing her gaze, Chaian tilted his head slightly.
“What?”
“What about?”
“Why are you staring?”
“I was wondering when you’d ask.”
“Ask what?”
“About the defensive stone.”
She thought he’d bring it up the moment he arrived.
The defensive stone he had taken from Colin.
She’d even prepared an excuse in case he asked.
‘I’ll just say I found it on the street.’
Wouldn’t that be convincing enough? If she said she found it on the street, what could he do about it?
After all, she had once told someone the mana stone was lost on the street. So why couldn’t a defensive stone be picked up there too?
“If I asked, would you tell me?”
“Yes.”
“Truthfully?”
“No.”
“……”
Chaian’s expression went blank for a moment.
How could she be so shameless?
“Hah.”
What a talent, truly.
He burst into laughter, shaking his head slightly.
“That’s why I won’t bother asking.”
If she wasn’t going to tell the truth, it’d be pointless to pry.
“But can you answer just one thing?”
“What is it?”
“Do you have any close friends who are mages?”
“You.”
“……”
As Ceres pointed at him with an indifferent gesture, Chaian’s eyes widened, and he couldn’t help but grin.
“Other than me.”
“…I used to. A long time ago.”
“Who? Are they still affiliated with the Tower?”
“They’re dead.”
“What?”
“They died.”
“Oh…”
Chaian’s hand, which had been brushing his lips, gently lowered.
‘The Bluedol and the defensive stone… were those from that person too?’
There were so many things Chaian wanted to ask, but he kept his mouth shut.
Ceres looked as composed as ever when she mentioned that the person had died. But it was precisely that composure that silenced him.
It felt like a shield, warning him not to touch the wound.
He owed her for the defensive stone too, but now didn’t seem the time to bring it up.
“Over here!”
“Come quickly!”
“They said someone from the Ellsia family has arrived!”
As he sat in awkward silence, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead, a commotion erupted outside the shop.
Peeking out, he saw a crowd hurrying toward a certain direction. Among them were individuals clearly injured.
“They’ve finally shown up.”
“…The Ellsia family?”
“Yes.”
Although the situation had been quickly resolved, the location meant there were many casualties from the monster attack.
Every healer in the capital had been mobilized to treat the injured, and it seemed the Ellsia family had finally sent someone.
“They always drag their feet.”
“…Ellsia family?”
“Yeah.”
Despite receiving the most donations from the state, they were always the last to act, which annoyed Chaian to no end.
“They receive the largest donations from the government.”
“Well, isn’t that because they’re skilled?”
“What’s the point of skill if commoners think they’re worthless?”
“……”
“They’re just money-hungry parasites…”
Smack!
“Argh!”
Chaian, grumbling, flinched when something struck his forehead.
“Why’d you hit me?”
“Sorry. It just happened.”
And it was true.
Her hand had moved before she could think. Hearing him curse the Ellsia family triggered something instinctual.
Sorry. It’s reflex.
“Ugh, come on.”
“…Hey, I’m the one who got hit, so why are you cursing?”
“I don’t know. It’s just annoying.”
Ceres stared at her hand, now still, her brows furrowed.
What did the Ellsia family’s reputation have to do with her?
‘This is a disease. It’s got to be.’
Annoying.
It was irritating.
Why were they letting themselves be insulted like this?
She suddenly stood up.
“Ceres? Where are you going?”
“…To see just how bad it is.”
“What?”
Yeah. Let’s see how far this nonsense goes.
***
“Next.”
“Um… healer, my mother is still having trouble breathing…”
“She’s just old. The treatment is complete. Can’t you see the line of people waiting?”
“But still…”
“Next!”
At the healer’s exasperated shout, the man, supporting his elderly mother, quietly left.
The old woman’s labored breathing and difficulty taking even a single step were all too evident.
The temporary clinic set up nearby was inundated with patients waiting for their turn, the line seemingly endless. Many had been injured in the Black Forest incident.
“Next.”
Among all the temporary clinics, the one managed by the Ellsia family was the most crowded.
Everyone wanted treatment from the famed Ellsia family healers, even if it meant enduring the long line in their already weakened state.
“Healer, how is my child?”
“……”
“They’ll be okay, right? Please…”
The man’s face was full of despair as he looked at his child, whose fingertips had turned black.
A bit of Bakura venom had splashed on the child, and now this.
Would his child lose the use of their hand forever?
“The hand will need to be amputated.”
“…What?”
“The necrosis has progressed too far.”
“Necrosis? You mean the hand must be cut off right now?”
“Yes.”
“There’s no other way?”
The father’s face turned pale as he processed the healer’s words.
So many thoughts raced through his mind.
The child was still so young. Could they really live their whole life without a hand? And did the decision have to be made immediately?
And it wasn’t just the blackened fingertips—the wrist needed to be amputated too!
“Healer, isn’t there truly another way…”
“Next.”
“…What?”
“Next patient.”
“Wait a moment. The treatment isn’t finished yet.”
“If you don’t like my methods, go elsewhere.”
“What… I just need some time to think! Please…”
“Next!”
The healer’s icy demeanor made it clear that further pleas would be ignored.
The father, his eyes red with tears, held his child tighter.
Suddenly—
Smack!
“Ugh!”
The healer, who had been seated and ignoring the departing patients, let out a startled groan.
—
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