Chapter 26: If someone soothes your wounds

Simon pushed open the door, now marked “Closed,” and Lila turned on the lights. The interior was clean and neatly arranged, someone had taken care of it.

She walked to the back, started the grinder, poured in coffee beans, and switched on the kettle.

In this world, people didn’t just study destructive magic. They also explored the nature of magic and its various applications.

Scholars had discovered that all matter could store mana, dust, branches, flowing water, everything contained magical energy, differing only in type and quantity.

Using the mana in the air as a baseline, substances with higher concentrations were called mana-storing materials, while those with less were called mana-repelling. Machines like these ran on refined mana-storing materials.

Minutes later, a fresh cup of coffee was ready, steam curling visibly in the warm light.

Lila placed it on the desk in the office and opened the ledger. Lines of dense writing filled the pages, but to her, it looked like rows of ants marching in formation.

‘Why isn’t he here yet?’

She had left decisively earlier, not even checking where Simon went. Now she wasn’t sure if he would come at all.

For some reason… she felt uneasy.

Looking out into the dim night, she could barely see the street corner under the indoor light. No one was there.

How long could this life continue? Hurting someone, then healing them… it had to end someday.

‘Was I too harsh today?’

‘…But when am I ever not?’

As Lila, the villainess, she felt no pity. But as Cornflor, there was a faint sense of guilt. So the wounds she caused, she felt she should be the one to heal them.

Even if it was deception… wasn’t the warmth real?

Still staring at the “ants” in the ledger, she caught a glimpse of movement outside, a figure stepping out from the corner, walking slowly but steadily.

This time, she didn’t pretend not to notice.

She set down the ledger and looked directly at him. Not knowing if he could see, she gave a small nod, then quickly got up and ran to the door.

Cold wind cut through the night, brushing against the wounds on Simon’s back, sending sharp pain through him.

‘Why not accept that power?’

His answer was simple.

People already feared and rejected him because of dark magic. If he embraced it and became a monster who harmed others…

‘Wouldn’t that prove them right?’

So he refused.

The khaki-colored door was right in front of him. Light spilled from the window, illuminating his face.

He reached for the handle.

****

The door opened by itself.

Simon froze.

As it swung open, warm light poured out, pushing back the darkness.

Before him stood Lila.

Her soft white hair swayed gently in the wind, glowing under the light like pure crystal. Her brows were slightly furrowed, golden eyes shining like a lighthouse, filled with worry.

Simon’s world split in two.

Behind him was the cold, merciless night.

In front of him, warmth. Gentle light. And a girl holding onto something like a thread of hope.

And he… clung to it.

Like a drowning man. Like a stray cat lost in loneliness, hoping someone would reach out and pull him up.

“Come in,” she said softly, her voice trembling ever so slightly.

Simon nodded and stepped inside.

Orange light drifted from her hands like playful spirits, brushing against his face before slipping into the wounds across his body. Warm energy spread within him, guiding the healing, cells rapidly repairing the damage.

Within minutes, the pain was gone.

“Thank you… Miss Shopkeeper.”

“That’s… what I should do.”

Her smile was a little forced.

“I’m just glad you’re okay.”

She placed the coffee in front of him.

“It’s cooled a bit. Drink it while it’s still warm.”

“Alright.”

Silence followed.

Simon didn’t want to talk about his pain just to seek comfort. He didn’t want to bring negativity to her.

And Lila… didn’t know what to say. Comfort, concern, nything she might say felt fake. She moved her lips slightly, but no words came out.

So Simon changed the topic.

“Are you going to watch Alice’s magic performance competition?”

“Hm?” Lila snapped out of her thoughts.

“I… I’ll go.”

It slipped out instinctively.

“You seem a bit distracted,” Simon said, taking a sip.

‘Warm.’

“…No,” she denied reflexively, then sighed. “Actually… a little. I did something wrong to someone. So I feel… a bit guilty.”

That person was sitting right in front of her.

“Really?”

It was hard for Simon to imagine her hurting someone.

“…Were you completely forced into it?” he asked.

Lila looked away, unable to meet his eyes.

“Not entirely… but I’ve been trying to make up for it.”

“So… you’re even now? No debts between you?”

“…More or less,” she said hesitantly, then added quietly, “But he doesn’t know yet. Do you think… he’d forgive me?”

She turned back, pretending to sip her coffee, while sneaking glances at Simon like a cautious kitten, searching his expression.

At least… she wanted to hear that he could forgive her.

Though even she knew, an answer obtained like this might not mean much.

Still… she was a bad person. After doing so many wrong things, it wasn’t unreasonable to prepare a fallback… to hope that even if everything collapsed, he wouldn’t hate her completely.

Simon found her cautious behavior strangely amusing.

“If you’re really trying to make up for it, then let him see that,” he said gently. “And if you’ve already done enough… I think he would forgive you.”

As he spoke, he noticed her golden eyes clearing, becoming brighter.

“Thank you,” she said.

For a moment, Simon was stunned.

“Do you want to go to the competition… together?” he asked, then quickly added, “Not just us, Siegfried and Vigus will be there too.”

He suddenly felt awkward, worried it might sound inappropriate.

“If you want me to, I’ll go,” Lila replied simply.

Under the warm light, she looked like an angel.

At least, in Simon’s eyes.

From Lila’s perspective, though, Simon just looked flustered, then smiling to himself for no clear reason.