Chapter 17: A Crack In The Eyes

It was the first time she had ever worried about someone, the first time she had ever thought so deeply about another person, and the first time her body had moved before she could make a rational decision.

So, even though Yelena went to look for Sian, she didn’t know why she was doing this, even giving up her training time.

“…Seriously, what am I doing?”

Yelena murmured to herself and ran towards the source of the sound. With her body enhanced by mana, she slashed through the branches and thorny bushes that blocked her path with her longsword.

Sian. Yes, it was that girl named Sian who was the problem.

She had so little time left. She didn’t want to have any lingering attachments to this world.

But for some reason, she couldn’t push Sian away like she did with others. Every time she looked at Sian, her poker face would loosen.

For the first time, she felt the presence of a friend, and it was so prominent in her heart. She was secretly happy that a broken person like her could be precious to someone.

“I’m going crazy.”

Yelena messed up her hair and sighed.

The girl named Sian, who uniquely approached her, she had come to want her.

She wondered if Sian would understand her if it was she who approached her broken self.

She should have buried these useless feelings along with her memories at her parents’ funeral eight years ago. So she shouldn’t be turning her eyes elsewhere.

If she got distracted by something strange and failed to take revenge, then her parents’ deaths would have been in vain.

But why was she looking for Sian, even sacrificing her precious training time? Wasting her stamina on something useless…

“…No.”

Yelena shook her head and dispelled the rising thoughts. It wasn’t the time to think about that. Sian might be in danger.

The impact sound she had just heard was definitely not ordinary. Yelena’s instincts were telling her that. She shouldn’t leave Sian alone.

“This isn’t just for my sake…”

During the campaign in the North, a knight had told her that a friend is someone who supports you in any situation, a strong support you can lean on in battle.

She had never thought she needed such a thing until now. She was simply changing her mind.

Sian’s skills wouldn’t hinder her, at the very least.

“So. So, this is all for the sake of revenge.”

It was because she needed Sian for her revenge that she was looking for her. While making excuses to herself like that.

Yelena, as soon as she found Sian, asked in a voice filled with relief.

“Sian? Where on earth have you been…”

Her worried gaze scanned Sian. Sian’s complexion, reflected by the lamp, didn’t look good.

But thankfully, there seemed to be no major external injuries, and Sian’s expression didn’t look too serious.

Yelena quickly sheathed her longsword and approached Sian. Then, as Sian’s figure, hidden by the bushes, was revealed, the figure of another girl came into view.

Dark blue hair that flowed past her shoulders. Dark circles under her eyes. And behind her back, a longsword as tall as herself.

However, such things didn’t matter. Because in Yelena’s eyes, she saw Sian’s arms holding the girl tightly, as if embracing a precious person.

Suddenly, Yelena’s eyebrows furrowed.

That’s my place. Who on earth is that girl, daring to approach Sian? And why does Sian, who said she had no friends, look so intimate with that girl?

No longer could she think about being terminally ill or her parents’ revenge. Unnamed, slimy emotions surged from within her heart.

“…Sian. Who, is she?”

Perhaps that was why. Without realizing it, sharp words came out towards Sian.

The slimy emotion of ‘jealousy’ was too unfamiliar to a girl who lacked social skills. Yelena was simply uncomfortable with the situation.

“Uh…?”

Yelena asked, unknowingly making an oppressive expression.

“Why are you with Regina Strelachia?”

“Ah, um, well, you see…”

Flinch. Sian’s body trembled slightly. Various emotions were mixed in her always dignified purple eyes. Bewilderment. Confusion. And a bit of fear.

They were familiar types of emotions to Yelena.

When she played the part of the perfect ice princess, those were the expressions that surfaced when she raised her voice a little.

Only then did Yelena Frost realize her mistake.

Sian was an injured patient right now. And the girl leaning against Sian didn’t look to be in good condition either.

Why on earth was she doing this to patients…

“…No. I’m sorry, I misspoke. You disappeared, and I was a little flustered.”

Not wanting to see that expression on Sian’s face, Yelena quickly apologized to Sian and approached her. Fortunately, an awkward smile appeared on Yelena’s face, which had been making an inexplicable expression.

“I’ve made you worry…”

“Yes. Two students suddenly disappearing during the exam is something that has almost never happened at the academy. I was worried that something might have happened to you…”

“Ahaha, was that so?”

The girl, who had been awkwardly smiling, leaned against the tree as if she were tired and muttered.

“Still, I’m glad to feel this way. To be worried about by Yelena. It feels like I’ve become closer to you. It makes me quite happy to feel like a special existence to you..”

“Huh?”

Sian just wanted to express her gratitude to Yelena without any other thoughts, but the impact of those words on Yelena was even greater.

Fwoosh-

Heat rose to Yelena’s cheeks. Her always icy silver eyes trembled.

“Thank you. For coming all the way here to help me, even at this late hour.”

The girl’s voice tickled her ears pleasantly. At that, Yelena’s body, which was about to announce that she had found Sian and Regina, froze.

“…Well. If you weren’t here, there would be no one to train with me. So I was just worried. So, so don’t overthink it.”

Yelena, who had no immunity to pure emotions, stuttered in response, not even thinking about hiding her embarrassed expression.

And Sian wasn’t a fool to not notice such a fluctuation of emotions.

“Hehe, I see.”

Hearing Sian’s laughter-filled answer, Yelena couldn’t take it anymore and turned her body away.

“Ah, think what you want.”

Clang-

With the light sound of unsheathing, a sky-blue magic was cast at the tip of the sword. Yelena’s face, casting the signal magic, was as red as a ripe apple.

“Two broken ribs, and the arm muscles are not in a normal state. The back is not in a normal state either, and I won’t mention the minor wounds since they will heal quickly…What on earth have you been doing?”

A 160cm woman with short black hair and a somewhat worn-out appearance. Academy nurse, Claudia, let out a light sigh and put down the documents.

“Ahaha…well, you see…?”

“Yes. I heard roughly. You went into the dungeon where the ancient lich slumbers, right?”

“Ah, has the rumor already spread that far…?”

“It’s not a rumor, Ms. Elin told me. No matter what anyone says, I’m still the school nurse. I need to know what condition my patients are in, right?”

Claudia approached me and showed me her left hand. A white cross-shaped Stigmata engraved in the middle of her hand.

As Claudia drew on her mana, the Stigmata began to emit a warm light.

“…Well, it’s a good thing you came back alive. As long as you’re alive, I can heal your injuries.”

Claudia muttered as she unbuttoned my uniform top. As my bare skin was completely exposed, the bruised area on my side was revealed.

With a rustling sound, a white cloth covered the bruise. Along with that, warm mana flowed from Claudia’s hand.

“Mmm…”

It felt as if someone was gently stroking the injured area with a warm hand. I closed my eyes, surrendering myself to the sensation.

“There, all done.”

“Thank you so much.”

“Not at all. It would be best if you slept here tonight. I’ve temporarily patched you up, but you need to rest.”

Claudia added as she said that.

“I’ll be going now. If anything happens, come to the next room.”

Silence filled the room after Claudia left. As the tension slowly eased, I closed my eyes, surrendering to this peaceful quiet.

But then, someone approached me as I was preparing to sleep.

“Si, Sian…?”

“Hmm…Regina?”

A girl in a loose patient gown a size too big, hugging a large pillow. Regina.

With a red face hidden behind the large pillow, the girl asked, peeking her head out, looking extremely lovely. Like looking at a cute creature.

Perhaps, like before in the dungeon, she was afraid to sleep alone.

“Are you scared to sleep alone?”

“Ah, um…I’m sorry, but when I woke up and no one was there…I felt so lonely, so…”

“I see?”

So, without much thought, I asked Regina.

“Then, do you want to sleep with me?”