Chapter 76

“…… Did you wash your body well?”

“What do you mean by that question?”

“Literally, I’m asking if you washed every nook and cranny squeaky clean. I heard everything from Riana. So, no need to hide it. Sob……”

Pretending to cry, Abelin dabbed at her eyes, though she wasn’t sad at all.

“Why are you pretending to be sad? What did you hear from Riana, Abelin?”

“You said it yourself. That you made a deal with Lady Rostia. I was curious, so I asked Riana. And then, and then……!”

“Abelin, I’d bet everything I have that whatever comes out of your mouth next will be something absurd.”

“That in exchange for covering all the expenses while staying here, you decided to sell your body!”

“Huh……?”

It was an utterly ridiculous statement.

But it didn’t take long to realize what she meant.

“Abelin, you know that’s not what I meant, right?”

“Hehe, of course I know. I’m teasing you because I know. If you were really selling your body, I wouldn’t be teasing you.”

“I got a little nervous thinking there was something I didn’t know. Anyway, since the mission is over, rest well. I’ll be back.”

“Finally, I’ll be free from you? Ah, what a relief.”

“Haha, yeah. You’re feeling better now, so you don’t need me to nurse you. Do whatever you want.”

“You don’t have to tell me. Just go already. If you keep the Archmage waiting, who knows what might happen.”

“I’ll be back without you telling me. See you later.”

As I was about to leave Abelin’s hospital room after our conversation.

“Kairon.”

“Yeah?”

“Take care of yourself.”

“Of course. My body isn’t just mine, right? Our bodies are the Vanguard’s precious assets. I’ll be back for real now.”

“Kairon!”

“What now?”

“It’s just……”

When I stared at her, Abelin averted her gaze slightly.

“What are you going to do for lunch?”

“I’m not sure. I probably won’t be in the Magic Tower all day, but I’ll likely be there until lunch. It’s the first day, after all. If anything, I might eat with Riana and Lady Rostia. Why do you ask about my lunch?”

“…… What about dinner?”

“I have no idea. I’ll know when it’s over.”

“Do you at least have an estimate of when it might end?”

“No. But why are you asking about my lunch or dinner…… Oh, could it be?”

Thinking about it, even though we’re on vacation in this city, we don’t really know anyone or have friends to spend time with.

Abelin might be……?

With that thought, I decided to tease her by narrowing my eyes.

“Why, are you feeling lonely eating alone?”

“Yes.”

“Uh, uh……?”

Abelin’s voice was sincere.

“That’s rare. Abelin, being so straightforward from the start, that’s not like you.”

“What’s wrong with that? The only people I know in this city are Riana, Lady Rostia, and you. What else can I do? Eating alone lets me fully savor the taste, but I’d rather enjoy the pleasure of dining with others.”

It was an uncharacteristic honesty from Abelin.

The Abelin who had just been teasing me about washing squeaky clean seemed to have vanished.

“You owe me a drink, remember? Can’t you use that as an excuse?”

“…… No need to go that far. Fine. I’ll be back by five, so wait for me.”

“I’ll do that. It’s a promise. A promise.”

Having secured my promise to return by five, Abelin smiled faintly.

“Alright. I’ll be back.”

Closing the hospital room door and walking exactly twenty steps.

On the twentieth step, I let out a deep sigh of relief I’d been holding in.

‘Phew…… What’s going on? Why is she acting like this all of a sudden?’

And it wasn’t just Abelin who was acting strange.

When I said I’d come back by five for dinner, she tried to hide her joy but couldn’t help smiling faintly.

“…… I can’t deny it with my clumsy acting.”

That Abelin is truly beautiful.

Trying to sort out my confused feelings, I walked out.

“Kairon oppa, hi!”

“You look like you’re in a good mood. Did something interesting happen?”

Rostia and Riana had come to meet me.

“Ah, no. Nothing much. But what brings you here?”

“Hmph, nothing much, huh? Don’t change the subject. From what I’ve seen, when guys make that face, it’s usually because……”

“Kairon oppa, have a safe trip.”

Riana cut Rostia off with a slightly forceful tone.

“Uh, yeah. But why tell me to have a safe trip? Aren’t you coming to the Magic Tower with me?”

“No, I’m not. The Archmage needs you, not me, for her research. Besides, she told me to rest and watch for any abnormalities in my body for a while. And……”

Riana cautiously added.

“Does Abelin unnie still need nursing? She needs company too. I’ll take care of that.”

“Are you sure? Even though you and Abelin have gotten closer and call each other sisters now, nursing someone who’s sick isn’t easy. You have to stick by their side, indulging their whims and complaints.”

“I know. Actually, I want to repay her kindness. Remember? When I was almost captured by a demon, Abelin unnie carried me on her back, buying time. She got hurt doing that.”

Riana’s voice carried gratitude and guilt.

A genuine warmth radiated from her heart.

With her saying that, I had no reason to stop her, nor should I.

“Alright, then take care of Abelin. She’s my comrade, so look after her well, okay?”

“Okay. I’ll do my best. She’s almost fully recovered, so there won’t be much for me to do. See you later!”

Riana said that and hurried into the hospital.

Rostia watched Riana’s retreating figure and muttered in a dazed voice.

“Doesn’t it feel a bit strange?”

“Yes. I guess I’m not the only one who feels that way.”

“Well, whatever the case, we have our own tasks to attend to. Let’s go. There’s a lot I want to try on your body.”

“That makes me nervous. Can I return the money now and cancel?”

“Ah, don’t worry. Didn’t you say you’ve been through worse in your past life? Nothing I’ll do to you will be harsher or more painful than that. I promise. And perhaps……”

Rostia gestured to me.

Bend your knees and lower your waist so she could speak more comfortably.

I didn’t know why she wanted to talk here instead of in the lab, but it must be the Archmage’s will.

As I bent down as she wanted, Rostia whispered softly in my ear.

“You, who absorbed the Power of Demon, might be able to use magic even without learning it.”

“R-really?”

“Perhaps, I said perhaps. But if there was no possibility at all, I wouldn’t have started.”

“Let’s go, let’s go now! We shouldn’t be wasting time here!!”

“Don’t get too excited. Getting worked up won’t do you any good…… Eek!”

When I suddenly picked Rostia up, she clung to me in surprise as her body was lifted high.

“D-don’t get too excited! Consider this small body!”

“It’s your fault for saying something that got me excited! Hold on tight if you’re scared, you can cling to me!”

“I-it’s been so long since I’ve been held by a man…… Kyahhh!”

The Archmage screamed like a little girl, but none of that mattered to me now.

A magic warrior.

The ideal realm that both warriors and mages aspire to.

If I can reach a state where I can wield both magic and combat……

This life will definitely be better than the last.

***

“…… What did I just do?”

After Kairon left the hospital room, Abelin belatedly reflected on what she had done.

[ Why, are you feeling lonely eating alone? ]

[ Yes. ]

[ Uh, uh……? ]

[ You owe me a drink, remember? Can’t you use that as an excuse? ]

[ …… No need to go that far. Fine. I’ll be back by five, so wait for me. ]

[ I’ll do that. It’s a promise. A promise. ]

“Sigh……!”

Abelin covered her face with both hands, but it was too late—she had already said embarrassing things.

Admitting that she didn’t want to eat alone, that she felt lonely.

Even shamelessly whining like a child to her rival.

But the loneliness Abelin felt was different.

For the past few days, Kairon had stayed by her side, keeping her company while she lay in bed.

He tasted the bland hospital food, sympathizing with how she could eat it, and shared jokes and deep conversations to keep her from getting bored.

He even laughed off her teasing.

But now that she was better, he was leaving for the Magic Tower, unsure if they’d even eat together today.

There, Abelin felt an emptiness, a hunger directed at Kairon.

“What is this feeling…… Huh?”

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

“Can I come in?”

…… It was Riana.