Chapter 82

Abelin, who had run far away, crouched down in a dimly lit alley, kneeling and curling up.

After moving frantically and then stopping, the biting cold from the north finally seeped into every part of her body.

Though it was better than being in Krasnig, which was much further north than Rostia, the cold was still unbearable in her light and comfortable patient gown.

“This much should be…!”

Abelin tried to skillfully circulate mana throughout her body to endure the cold.

The attempt was good, but…

“Ugh…”

Her body, still not fully recovered, didn’t listen properly.

The mana didn’t spread evenly throughout her body, and in some places, it clumped up, causing pain when it touched areas that hadn’t healed yet, making her groan.

A body that was both cold and in pain.

With nothing comfortable about her situation, Abelin naturally began to feel pitiful about her own plight.

‘Why did I run away? I could have just spoken my mind. Kairon is more than just a good comrade; he’s practically ideal…’

The face that naturally came to mind.

‘Yes, he’s good-looking too. But why did I shut Riana’s mouth? I should have just admitted it openly. That would have been fine. I should go back now and declare it calmly.’

Having decided to handle it well, Abelin cleared her throat and decided to practice on her own.

“Honestly, I’ll admit it. Kairon, you’re not bad-looking, at the very least. Yes, just like this!”

Feeling more confident as the words flowed more easily than she thought, Abelin decided to try once more.

“Alright, one more time. Honestly, I’ll admit it. Kairon, you’re not bad-looking, at the very least…”

As she passionately practiced, Abelin slowly felt the strength draining from her throat.

“Actually, it’s not just your looks. The way you subtly take care of me, or how you don’t ignore me even when I’m being annoying or petty, and instead engage with me…”

“And what else?”

“Kyaaah…!”

*Slap-*

The crisp sound of Abelin’s hand swinging at the speed of light echoed, shaking all of Rostia.

“Ouch…”

“Sorry, no, I’m not sorry! Who just appears out of nowhere without a sound?”

“I thought I made enough noise. I just got here. I found you a while ago, but you seemed deep in thought, so I didn’t disturb you.”

“W-when did you get here?”

“Hmm, when was it?”

Abelin stared at Kairon with wildly shaking pupils.

Kairon noticed and smiled, wrapping it up.

“It’s a secret.”

“You shameless jerk!”

Abelin swung her hand again, but this time, Kairon lightly dodged it.

“You really are hurt. That earlier slap didn’t hurt as much as usual, and this one was slow enough to dodge easily. How did you manage that speed when you ran out of the hospital room earlier?”

“I, I… Ah.”

“Whoa, that’s dangerous!”

Kairon caught Abelin as she trembled and collapsed to the side.

“Don’t lose consciousness, Abelin. You’re not this weak, are you?”

“Th-thank you. No, should I be thanking you…?”

“Here, cover yourself with this for now.”

Kairon helped Abelin up and draped his own coat over her shoulders.

“Why are you giving this to me? You know I don’t need this.”

“I know. Someone at our level of mana control can usually warm themselves up. But look at you now. The person who says they don’t need it is shivering like this? Being injured inside means your mana pathways are damaged. Just accept the kindness.”

“…Alright. Thank you.”

Abelin decided to accept the kindness and adjusted the coat Kairon had draped over her.

Since Kairon had just been wearing it, the warmth from the coat was incredibly comforting.

And, for some reason, there was a faint, soothing scent that made her feel a bit drowsy…

“Good. You don’t hate me.”

“Pfft…!”

Abelin, who had been relaxing, suddenly choked on her breath at Kairon’s unexpected words, causing her to cough.

“Cough, cough, cough!”

“Whoa, why are you so surprised? You said you had no reason to hate me.”

“Congratulations. I think you just gave me one.”

“Well, one is fine. I think it’s a good thing.”

“You think it’s a good thing that I have a reason to hate you?”

“Even if you have one reason now, it means there are no other reasons to hate me, right?”

Kairon grinned and sat down beside Abelin.

“Honestly, I was a bit worried. You were the first comrade I told about hunting hidden demons, and you’ve been helping me ever since. If my predictions are correct, I’ll need your help a lot more in the future. Right?”

“…Eliminating hidden demons is an unconditional duty for the Vanguard. There’s no reason not to cooperate. I’m just doing what’s expected. Why are you worried about that?”

“Because you keep openly badmouthing me. Saying I’m clueless, that I don’t make sense. You help, but I thought it might be burdensome or unpleasant for you. Plus, this time you got seriously hurt. If I had been even a little late, what would have happened to you…”

“Stop with the weak talk.”

Abelin tapped Kairon as he spoke.

“Hunting demons is dangerous. Ronos, the demon we faced this time, was the strongest we’ve ever encountered. But we did it, didn’t we? We minimize sacrifices, but if necessary, we sacrifice ourselves to defeat the demons. That’s the creed of our Vanguard.”

“Creed, creed. Of course, most of our Vanguard members are prepared to sacrifice themselves when needed. But Abelin, you…”

Kairon carefully turned to look at Abelin and spoke even more cautiously.

“You have something to prepare for, don’t you?”

“…That’s just a dream for someday. You don’t need to worry about it. I’m part of the Vanguard now, and I’ll focus on my duties until then.”

“Right. That’s what I’m grateful for.”

“Grateful? Even though I might leave someday?”

“Abelin. I don’t think the Vanguard will last forever.”

Kairon’s voice, usually cheerful, was now serious.

Abelin sensed something mixed in Kairon’s words.

“The Vanguard won’t last forever? What do you mean, Kairon?”

“Exactly that. I think the Vanguard shouldn’t last forever. I’m going to make sure of it this time.”

“As far as I know, there are only two possible endings for the Vanguard. Our destruction, or…”

“The destruction of the demons. That’s exactly the direction I’m aiming for.”

The destruction of the demons.

That was the ultimate goal the Vanguard pursued.

Right now, it’s just about fending off the waves of demons, but if we can completely block them, the Vanguard can go beyond just fulfilling its duties and eliminate a major threat to the world.

“Kairon, it’s been a long time since the waves started. But everyone just silently faces the waves; no one has figured out how to end them. But how can you speak with such confidence?”

“I think I have an idea. A little bit about the demons and the god they serve.”

Abelin’s eyes widened as she listened.

“Really? You’re not just making it up, are you?”

“If I were, I wouldn’t have brought it up. I have some idea of what they want, and if we use that well, maybe we can end this eternal defense operation.”

“That’s…!”

Abelin jumped up from her seat.

“What is it? Don’t keep it to yourself; share it. We’re comrades, aren’t we? Everyone in the Vanguard should know and move in the same direction.”

“That’s not possible, Abelin. You know that not everyone in the Vanguard is of one mind.”

Kairon slightly furrowed his brows.

“Remember? During the last wave, when we were on the brink of annihilation, Commander Balthazar and his guards didn’t intervene until the very end. Do you think that’s right?”

“But the guards are the last resort. Plus, they’re more about bringing in people from around the world who support the Vanguard and giving them plausible backgrounds. That’s why they try not to fight as much, right?”

“Right. Do you think that’s correct?”

“…No.”

“Abelin.”

Kairon turned his body toward Abelin.

And with a sincere voice, he asked.

“Do you trust me?”

“In what sense do you want me to trust you?”

“As a true Vanguard comrade. I really want to drive the demons out of this world forever. If you trust me, I can tell you more.”

“There’s no reason not to trust you. Trust is what makes the Vanguard one.”

“Thank you. But that’s not enough. I need decisive proof that you’ll trust and stay with me. For example, Lady Rostia willingly performed Oath Magic.”

“Oath Magic…?”

“Right. That’s why I could tell her everything. That’s why she actively cooperated this time. So Abelin, I’m shamelessly asking you. What can you offer as proof that you trust me?”

“Proof, you need proof…”

Kairon was asking for proof comparable to Oath Magic.

Abelin bit her lip tightly and fell into deep thought.