Chapter 44: Fake Stigmata (7)

Due to the nature of fake Stigmata, which are made by grinding people, the mana of fake Stigmata holders is bound to have a sticky aspect.

It’s not impossible to hide it if told to, but it’s incredibly difficult to hide even the mana that unconsciously leaks out during intense combat.

Unless one is at the level of a Paladin of the Dark Cult or higher, they cannot hide all of that mana. That’s why the Dark Cult mainly uses people without fake Stigmata for infiltration missions.

The problem is, Elissa’s mana was different from ordinary people, but it wasn’t completely strange like the fake Stigmata holders.

There was a dark feeling in Elissa’s mana, similar to the fake Stigmata holders… but it wasn’t that severe.

It’s hard to conclude that Elissa is a fake Stigmata holder based on this alone, because Elissa is a special case in many ways.

So, after the sparring, I came to the store with Yelena and asked for her opinion.

“Yelena. Did you notice anything strange while sparring with Elissa today?”

“…Hmm, the wavelength of her mana is unique? But Elissa is a mana excess patient, so isn’t it normal for her mana wavelength to be unique? Other than that, I didn’t notice anything particularly strange.”

Yes. This is the problem.

There was too little information about mana excess.

Since the original work glossed over mana excess with a simple “it existed~”, even I don’t know much about it.

“Huu…”

I took a deep breath and picked up a suitable drink from the shelf. It might be better to just talk to Regina about this later.

If Regina has regressed a thousand times, she might know even what I don’t. The perspective of a player and the perspective of someone who has actually lived in the world are different.

Thinking that, I was choosing a sandwich when I felt an intense gaze towards me and flinched, turning my gaze.

Because Yelena was looking at me with a more serious expression than ever before.

If gazes had physical force, there would probably be a big hole in the back of my head right now. The third sense, often referred to as a woman’s intuition, was ringing alarm bells.

“Uh, um… Yelena?”

“Do you have any worries these days?”

Was I showing it that much?

Yelena, Regina, and Elissa. All my close friends have noticed that my condition is a bit strange these days.

I thought I was a bit confident in maintaining a poker face while living as an adventurer. It seems like this kind of thing doesn’t suit me. I just got caught.

The cold eyes that approached me were so overwhelming that I slowly avoided her gaze and made an excuse.

“Ah, it’s nothing. I’m just having a little trouble with my studies.”

“…Really?”

“Hyat?!”

Yelena’s white and long fingers, like jade, grabbed my chin and fixed my gaze back on her. A cute moan unknowingly escaped from me at the seemingly indifferent yet affectionate touch.

It was almost dinner time, so the store was quiet. No one could see what was happening in the corner of the store.

Perhaps that’s why Yelena’s gaze, holding my chin while completely pushing me against the wall, felt ominous.

“Ye, Yelena?!”

“Hmm…”

A faint smile appeared on Yelena’s lips. She carefully turned my head and examined my face, then muttered in a cool voice.

“Sian. I’ll give you one piece of advice.”

“…?”

“Don’t lie. You’re really bad at it.”

Yelena’s voice, muttering that, felt complicated in many ways. Along with that, Yelena’s right hand wrapped around both of my wrists at once.

There wasn’t much strength in Yelena’s hand that restrained my wrists, but Yelena knew that I wouldn’t be able to shake it off by force. Because she knew well that I couldn’t be harsh to my friends.

I tried to avoid her gaze, but Yelena’s hand holding my chin was strong. With my gaze fixed on Yelena’s eyes, I opened my mouth to make some kind of excuse.

At the same time, Yelena’s index finger, holding my chin, pressed my left cheek.

“Ugh…?”

“Don’t make excuses.”

My pronunciation became cutely muffled as my cheek was pressed, and embarrassment appeared in my grape-colored eyes. Yelena, slowly appreciating my appearance, continued in a calm voice.

“Your voice, which was always bold, lacks confidence, your eyes are trembling cutely, and your breathing is so shallow. Did you really think I would be fooled?”

“Uh, that’s because you’re so close…Ugh?!”

“I’m not finished yet.”

“Ugh…”

This time, Yelena’s thumb brushed my lips. With my words blocked twice, I gave up and leaned against the wall.

Yelena is a girl, so she wouldn’t understand. But I was a man in my previous life. Even though I’ve lived as a girl for about five years, I’m still more used to men than women.

A beautiful girl approaching me this close and touching my skin, a shy person like me can’t help but tremble…!

Besides, besides…just seeing her smile so seductively without realizing it is a little dangerous. Casually touching my lips, stroking my cheek!

Because Yelena keeps acting so attractively, I’m afraid I’ll accidentally go beyond the feelings of a friend. In other words, feelings of love…

My previous life was relatively tolerant of such relationships between the same s*x, but this is the 15th century. Of course, it’s a much more open world compared to the actual Middle Ages, but!

If I… like Yelena romantically, what would she think of me? It would be a relief if she didn’t just say it’s disgusting and cut me off.

If the feelings I have for Yelena cross the line of friendship, the relationship will be ruined. Keeping that in mind, I clenched my teeth and tried to suppress the pounding sound of my heart.

I tried to forget the feel of Yelena’s heavy flesh touching my chest, and the feel of her long, beautiful fingers stroking my face.

“We. Are we really friends, right?”

“Uh, uh?”

So, when Yelena asked that question, I was really surprised. It doesn’t make sense to read a person’s mind, but I wondered if she really read my mind.

But fortunately, the following words were different from my worries. Yelena paused for a moment, then spoke carefully.

“I’m really bad at beating around the bush. I didn’t learn the etiquette of nobles, so I’ll just ask directly.”

“What…”

“Sian. I know something’s going on with you. I know you look unusually tired these days, and you’re talking to Regina alone.”

“Ugh, how did you…?”

“I was right?”

“Ah.”

Only then did I realize that I had made a slip of the tongue.

It’s true that I’ve been spending a little more time with Regina than Yelena these days because of the fake Stigmata, but there’s no way Yelena would know that. I fell for a simple leading question.

“Anyway, so honestly, I feel a bit left out these days. You’re talking to Regina separately without me, and you’re agonizing over your worries alone.”

“Ugh…?”

It’s not that I don’t understand Yelena’s feelings.

Even though I lived as a shut-in in my previous life… I had friends too.

When three people are gathered, if two of them leave me out and talk about things only they know, it’s inevitable that the friendship will be strained.

In that sense, I was rather grateful that Yelena was so direct. If she kept this to herself, it would be difficult for Yelena, me, and Regina’s relationship to get closer.

“Is the worry you’re holding something that shouldn’t be known to me? Or is it hard to talk about?”

“…It’s not that.”

The fake Stigmata was not something difficult to tell Yelena.

Given Yelena’s personality, she wouldn’t spread this around, and if a situation where force is actually needed arises, Yelena would be a huge asset.

Regina is just a joker card.

Regina’s power is overwhelming, but her body, weakened by repeated regressions, cannot handle that overwhelming power.

So, another helper is welcome news for me. The reason I didn’t call Yelena was because of one reason.

“I just didn’t want to make you suffer too. It seemed like Yelena had a goal she wanted to achieve.”

Yelena abandons all subjects except swordsmanship. Even required subjects like basic magic circle dismantling, she spends all day practicing swordsmanship.

Perhaps, Yelena came to the academy because she wanted to achieve something. She would have been appointed as the commander of the Northern Knights even if she stayed in the North, so why did she come here?

“Heh, you don’t need to worry about that. My first friend needs help, so why would I hesitate.”

“…Then, I’ll tell you when I get back to my room later. It’s not something to talk about here.”

“Yes. Thank you for being honest.”

“No. I’m more grateful.”

I answered like that and took a step back from Yelena.

Indeed, Yelena is a friend I never want to lose. So I needed to maintain some distance from Yelena.

Really, if things continue like this, it feels like the relationship between Yelena and me will be strained.