Chapter 11: A Night of Confessions and Comfort

Since the storage room on the second floor had not been cleared out, Xia Ranxin offered to sleep in the living room, reasoning that Bai Zhi’s sofa was far more comfortable than the wooden plank bed in her own cramped shack.

Hovering on the verge of exhaustion, Bai Zhi declared herself too weary to climb the stairs, preferring to simply settle down in the living room for the night.

With Bai Zhi’s decision, Xia Ranxin found it difficult to insist otherwise.

Ultimately, the sleeping arrangements were settled: Lin and Xia Ranxin shared Bai Zhi’s room, Bai Zhi slept in the living room, and Rena remained in her own bedroom.

***

Late into the night, in Rena’s bedroom.

Despite the day’s many events leaving her mentally drained, Rena felt an unsettling restlessness within her, tossing and turning without finding sleep.

Her mind incessantly replayed the conversation she had with Lin in the kitchen earlier, with Lin’s accusations and the tragic scenes of the war from two years prior flickering alternately in her thoughts.

Time seemed to slip away rapidly.

As the hour hand on the wall clock moved, Rena resolved that she could not continue down this path of introspection.

She abruptly sat up, deciding to go downstairs to the kitchen for a glass of water, hoping to calm her agitated mind.

Moving with extreme caution to avoid disturbing anyone, Rena made her way to the staircase, taking care not to produce a single sound.

Upon reaching the landing, she noticed the living room light was still on.

Bai Zhi, who should have been long asleep, was curled up on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket, lost in thought.

“Oh, Rena, are you down for a bathroom break? Did you eat too much dinner?”

Spotting a slightly surprised Rena, Bai Zhi quipped as usual, though her voice lacked its customary vivacity.

“No, I just came down for a glass of water… I thought you were asleep, Bai Zhi.”

Rena poured two glasses of water in the kitchen before settling naturally beside Bai Zhi on the sofa.

“Bai Zhi, you haven’t slept in ages; you shouldn’t be staying up any longer.”

“I know.”

Bai Zhi offered a faint smile.

“Since encountering that lizard man last night, there hasn’t been a moment of peace.

To be honest, I’m incredibly sleepy right now; my eyes are practically glued shut.”

“But… I still can’t sleep.”

Bai Zhi hunched her shoulders, shrinking further into herself.

“Is something weighing on your mind?”

Rena’s voice was exceptionally gentle.

“Something on my mind? Perhaps.”

Bai Zhi fell silent for a moment before speaking.

“The ‘Shadow Beast’ that’s been targeting Xia Ranxin—it’s from another world, isn’t it?”

Rena nodded.

“That’s likely the case.”

“And Lin, too…”

Bai Zhi’s voice dropped to a low murmur.

“I had always believed that over the past two years, every transmigrator from other worlds who arrived in San葉 City had been promptly sent back by me.

Yet, only today did I realize how many others had silently crossed over, entirely unnoticed by me.”

Bai Zhi wrapped her arms around her knees, her dark hair obscuring her eyes, making her expression unreadable.

“How many otherworldly beings, like Lin and the ‘Shadow Beast’, have I overlooked these past two years?

And how many innocent people, like Xia Ranxin, were devoured by monsters such as the ‘Shadow Beast’ without even a chance to cry for help?”

Rena placed the water in front of Bai Zhi, continuing to listen to her laments.

“And yet, I acted like some incredibly capable person in front of Xia Ranxin…”

“Doesn’t that seem ridiculous, Rena?”

Bai Zhi appeared exceptionally despondent, the day’s events clearly having taken a heavy toll on her, though her usual lively demeanor had masked it all.

Only in the quiet depths of the night, before Rena, did she allow her true feelings to surface without inhibition.

Rena took a sip of water to moisten her throat, then offered soft words of comfort.

“Bai Zhi, this isn’t your fault.

You’ve done more than enough.”

Seeing Bai Zhi’s dejection, Rena naturally felt a pang of sorrow herself.

“Whether in this world or in ‘Granzenias,’ at your age, you’re still just a child.

No one should expect a child to bear a world-altering mission.

Bai Zhi, you’re pushing yourself too hard.”

After Rena’s words hung in the air for a moment, Bai Zhi slowly began to speak.

“That’s not it, Rena… I’m not that selfless of a person; it’s just that…”

“It’s just that the responsibility that ought to be mine must be fulfilled by me alone…”

Bai Zhi buried her head even lower.

Seeing her distress, Rena smiled and patted her own rather shapely thigh.

“Don’t overthink things.

Come here.”

Bai Zhi tilted her head, a question in her eyes.

“Isn’t this what you clamored for the first time we met?” A hint of shyness flickered across Rena’s face.

“A lap pillow, I think it was called.

Haven’t you always wanted one?”

“…Tonight, Rena is unusually gentle.

Before, she always said it was too embarrassing and refused.”

Bai Zhi chuckled, the tension in her expression easing instantly.

“It’s just a special service.

After all, you’ve worked so hard, Bai Zhi; you deserve a little reward.”

At Rena’s urging, Bai Zhi slowly crawled over and rested her head on Rena’s lap.

“How does it feel?”

Bai Zhi snuggled in, offering a heartfelt comment.

“Hmm… it’s too hard.

Not comfortable at all.

I feel a bit cheated.”

Rena let out a soft laugh.

“How rude!

Don’t always use the word ‘hard’ to describe a girl’s body… Those are the marks of training!

I can’t help it.”

“Oh, come on!” Bai Zhi shifted closer to Rena.

“But it really is hard!

Speaking of which, can I rest my head on your chest, Rena?

That’s the only soft part of your entire body.”

Rena remained silent, a slight exasperation on her face.

“If you push your luck any further, I’m leaving.”

“Ugh, fine, this is good enough.”

Saying this, Bai Zhi closed her eyes.

“Though it’s not exactly comfortable, there’s a strange sense of security, as if I’ve returned to my mother’s embrace.”

Rena’s brow furrowed slightly with amusement.

“Bai Zhi, I’m only one year older than you.”

“It’s a compliment, in a way.

You’ll understand once you’ve lived here longer.”

With that, Bai Zhi let out a long sigh.

“Perhaps I’m just overthinking things because I’m so tired…”

Rena’s fingers gently twirled the strands of the girl’s hair on her lap.

She said nothing, simply listening.

Bai Zhi finally settled into a comfortable position.

“Oh, tell me about yourself, Rena, like a bedtime story.”

“My story?” Rena looked surprised.

“Why the sudden interest in that?”

“Just curious, really.

I suddenly want to know what the old Rena was like… Don’t you want to tell me?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to,” Rena chuckled.

“It’s just that I don’t know where to begin.”

“Then tell me about you and Lin,” Bai Zhi said, turning to face Rena directly.

“I’ve been curious about that since earlier today.”

“Ah, that…” Rena’s expression darkened for a moment.

“That happened two years ago…”

“Two years ago again…”

Bai Zhi murmured softly, but Rena didn’t hear her soliloquy, continuing her tale.

“The ‘Crimson Moon Tribe’ from the northern lands suddenly appeared within the kingdom’s borders.

They claimed their homeland had been devastated by natural disaster and they were now migrating south in search of a new settlement, hoping for aid from the kingdom.”

“There was considerable debate at the time over how to deal with these people.

Some argued they should be driven away and left to fend for themselves, while a faction of nobles, led by the Knight Order, believed they should be welcomed.”

“Ultimately, the Knight Order’s opinion prevailed.

The ‘Crimson Moon Tribe’ was permitted to enter the kingdom, granted a small piece of land for recuperation, and supplied with food and various provisions under the Knight Order’s supervision.”

“…”

Bai Zhi remained silent, already anticipating the inevitable turning point.

Sure enough, Rena’s expression became visibly pained.

“However, our generosity and kindness were not repaid; instead, we were met with betrayal!

Those shameless jackals forgot past favors and attacked the very Knight Order tasked with protecting them!

Afterward, they began violently assaulting facilities throughout the kingdom!”

“War erupted.

Although the ‘Crimson Moon Tribe’ was small in number, each of them was a skilled warrior, posing significant challenges to the kingdom.

In the end, the kingdom won the war, expelling all remaining members of the ‘Crimson Moon Tribe,’ but the Knight Order, which had championed their acceptance, suffered immense losses.”

As she spoke, Rena’s voice grew exceptionally sorrowful.

“My friends, my teacher, and our esteemed Commander, who had guided us like a father, all perished in that war.

Therefore, I can never forgive those ungrateful beasts!”

“…”

The atmosphere grew heavy for a moment.

After a brief silence, Bai Zhi spoke, a hint of awkwardness in her voice.

“I’m sorry.

I should have asked about something lighter.”

“No, this isn’t your fault, Bai Zhi.”

Rena replied, a touch of慌乱 in her tone.

“However, this explains why you almost got into a fight with Lin earlier today.”

Rena nodded silently.

“I was startled at the time, never expecting to encounter them in this world, and I lost control for a moment…”

“Ah, I think that’s a perfectly normal reaction, but…”

Bai Zhi’s expression turned thoughtful.

Rena was drawn in by her words.

“But what?”

“But judging by Lin’s reaction, there might be more to this incident than meets the eye…”

Bai Zhi stopped mid-sentence, shaking her head.

“Never mind.

Since I didn’t witness the event firsthand, I shouldn’t make such casual inferences.

However, there’s one thing I’m curious about.

Rena, if you set aside all identities, what kind of person is Lin in your eyes?”

“Stubborn, rigid, unreasonable.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Rena blurted out these three words.

Then, Rena paused, her voice becoming a little hesitant as she continued.

“…However, as a companion, she’s at least reliable.”

“Well, I feel the same way.”

Bai Zhi smiled.

“Honestly, I can’t imagine Lin ever betraying Xia Ranxin.

At least, based on Lin’s character, we can still trust her for now.”

Rena puffed out her cheeks in mild displeasure, muttering something under her breath, but ultimately nodded in agreement.

“You’re right.

At least at this stage, she is trustworthy.”

“Alright, let’s move past this topic.

Let’s talk about other things, Rena!”

Perhaps to lighten the mood, Bai Zhi clapped her hands softly, deliberately changing the subject.

“Other things?”

“Like your childhood experiences, Rena, or the local specialties and scenery of your homeland.”

As Bai Zhi spoke, she again closed her eyes slightly.

“After all, I’m the only one whose life has been laid bare, while I know absolutely nothing about you, Rena.

That’s just not fair!”

“What do you mean ‘not fair’?

This isn’t a competition where we have to declare a winner,” Rena said, a smile returning to her face.

“Where should I begin… I’ll tell you about what happened when I first joined the Knight Order…”

Rena began to ramble on, recounting her embarrassing moments when she first joined the Knight Order, the beautiful scenery of the kingdom, and the friendly residents of the surrounding areas.

And many more things—all the beautiful memories she held.

Bai Zhi initially offered a few responses, but gradually, her eyelids grew heavy, and her replies dwindled to indistinct murmurs.

“Ugh… if only I… I could go see it…”

Like a sleepwalker, Bai Zhi mumbled softly.

Rena smiled gently at the sleeping Bai Zhi, then carefully lifted her into her arms.

“Yes, if only I could see that world I lived in, with you.”

She carried Bai Zhi upstairs with extreme care, as if handling a precious treasure, then casually switched off the living room light.

With a soft click, the night deepened, and everything enveloped in darkness returned to its quiet repose.