Chapter 87
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: 29. Midterms
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I've long harbored a vague curiosity.
What would it feel like to hold an elf in my arms?
Would it be as soft as down feathers?
Or perhaps a fresh forest scent, the kind that lifts your spirits just imagining it?
That childish whim from my youth—a hazy longing for fantasy creatures that don't exist in reality—had naturally faded with age.
I never dreamed that faint fancy would turn into reality and hit me right in the face at such an unexpected moment.
'...Who knew life would throw a day like this my way.'
"...Mm."
Elysia slept soundly, using my arm as her pillow.
I carefully brushed aside her soft hair and blankly gazed down at her sleeping face.
The faint shadow cast by her long lashes, the steady rise and fall of her ample chest.
And the soft, rhythmic breathing leaking from her slightly parted red lips.
She must have been exhausted from a day of constant tension; she showed no signs of waking.
If anything, as time passed, she burrowed deeper into my embrace.
Like someone reunited with their long-lost other half.
'At least I'm not cold, thanks to her.'
The problem wasn't the cold—it was the heat.
Every spot where her body touched felt like it was on fire.
And the soft, warm sensation transmitted through our thin clothes kept stirring instincts I'd long forgotten.
While my body burned hot, my mind was sharper than ever, wide awake.
There was no way I could sleep in a situation like this.
In the end, I spent that night staring into the darkness, sleepless.
After pulling that all-nighter, just as faint dawn light began filtering into the cave from outside,
I lay there with hollow eyes, staring at the ceiling, having reached a state of enlightenment.
"Mm..."
Elysia woke with tousled hair, rubbing her eyes and glancing around.
Realizing she was nestled against my chest, she jolted upright in surprise.
"Oh, oh dear. Sorry, Evan. I have some bad sleeping habits...!"
Her face flushed red as a ripe tomato, and she floundered, at a loss.
Where had the boldness from last night gone, when she'd confidently suggested we sleep together?
Now she was every bit the shy young girl.
"It's fine. Thanks to you, I slept warm."
...Though I hadn't slept a wink.
No need to embarrass her further by admitting that.
I replied calmly and hauled my stiff body upright.
Crack, pop!
My joints screamed from holding the rigid position all night, but I didn't let it show.
We finished a simple breakfast with preserved rations from my bag and headed to the cave entrance.
The forest morning was still shrouded in thick fog, but visibility felt a bit better than yesterday.
"Evan. What should we do today?"
Elysia peered out from the cave and asked.
Maybe it was relief from surviving the first day unscathed.
"How about we scout the area to loosen up?"
Her eyes held far more leisure than yesterday.
Her initial anxious expression had faded; she'd adapted to the forest quite well overnight.
"Hmm. No need to push ourselves."
I pretended to think it over before answering.
Truth be told, my plan from the start was just to hole up in this cave for three days—no grand schemes.
I had zero intention of risking danger by wandering the woods.
'We've already secured one flag anyway.'
The rest would sort themselves out in turf wars between the other teams.
We could just watch from afar and swoop in for fisherman's gains at the end.
If that didn't pan out, oh well.
"...I see?"
Twitch, twitch.
Elysia tilted her head, looking puzzled as she gazed at me.
My eyes nearly got stolen by the adorable twitch of her ears from curiosity.
"Yeah. No point courting danger."
"If Evan says so..."
She readily nodded at my response.
She prioritized safety over reckless competition, so she seemed to agree.
Above all, I could feel her complete trust in me.
"Th-then... we're just staying put here all day?"
"Yes. It's dangerous out there, and going now would just lead to pointless attrition."
The second day might even be riskier than the first.
This was when initial scouting ended and full battles began.
And besides.
"The real contest will be decided on the last day anyway."
"The last day?"
"Everyone will be worn out by then. Even flag-holding teams will be scrambling to defend. Striking then is way more efficient."
Parties like Kaien's or Iris's would definitely play it that way.
Knowing them, they wouldn't be dumb enough to burn energy early.
I figured they'd find a base like us and bide their time quietly.
"Hmm..."
Elysia pondered my explanation, then nodded in understanding.
"You're right, Evan. No need to overdo it."
Thanks to her going along smoothly,
we spent the day leisurely in the cave.
It was peaceful, but the forest's silence kept the tension alive.
"...!?"
"......!"
Boom...
Explosions rumbling from afar, screams echoing through the sky.
Traces of battles far fiercer than yesterday shook the woods.
As time passed, screams and clashes from all over the forest grew more intense.
Proof of fights incomparable to yesterday's skirmishes.
'Dropouts should start appearing soon.'
I clicked my tongue softly while peering outside.
By now, bloody turf wars over flags must be raging everywhere.
Whether to monsters or rival teams,
exhausted fighters would start collapsing.
"Everyone's... fighting so hard."
Elysia murmured worriedly.
"Yeah."
I replied indifferently, perking my ears.
To check for approaching presences.
"..."
Fortunately, nothing yet.
The cave's remote location and the thick fog blocking sight probably helped.
'Hope it stays quiet like this.'
+ + +
We'd been quietly passing time in the cave for a while.
Before long, night fell again on the foggy forest.
The intense daytime noises had died down one by one,
leaving only eerie beast howls circling our ears.
"...Hoo."
Thud.
Elysia, who had been reading a small book on her lap—goodness knows when she'd pulled it out—closed it with a soft sigh.
Whether the words weren't sinking in or she'd lost interest,
she set the book aside and slowly turned to stare at me.
"..."
The magic stone's gentle light cast soft shadows on her profile.
Under the shadow of her long lashes, emerald eyes sparkled like jewels.
She said nothing, just piercing me with her gaze.
"..."
The silence stretched longer than expected.
I strained to listen, expecting her to speak, but her lips stayed firmly shut.
Only that unrelentingly direct stare poured toward me.
'...This is getting awkward.'
Embarrassment welled up under her hole-boring gaze.
I rubbed my cheek, wondering if something was on my face, but her eyes didn't budge.
Finally, unable to endure it, I cleared my throat first.
"...Ahem."
She ignored it completely.
If anything, she propped her chin and observed me even more blatantly.
Just as I opened my mouth to break the tension,
"Evan."
She finally spoke first.
"...Yes."
I turned to her, responding as if I'd been waiting.
She was beaming, still propping her chin, eyes fixed on me.
"Um... we've got time left. Want to chat about us?"
"Chat?"
Her sudden proposal gave me pause, but I nodded.
Fair enough—we'd been cooped up in this cramped cave all day. She must be bored stiff.
I was used to it, but for an active girl like her, it had to be torture.
"Sure."
"G-good..."
She murmured in relief at my agreement and scooted closer, pressing against me.
"Th-then I'll go first. Evan... what's your type?"
"...Pardon?"
Her unexpected question drew an involuntary reflex.
"J-just curious...! What kind of woman a guy like you likes...!"
Elysia's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Pretty provocative topic for idle chit-chat.
And in this sealed cave.
Just the two of us, no less.
'Well, she's a girl too. Normal to wonder about romance at her age.'
I gave a wry internal smile and brushed it off vaguely.
"Dunno. Never really thought about it."
"...Liar."
She narrowed her eyes and shot me a look.
As if to say she wouldn't buy that easy dodge.
"What about Miss Riel? Or Miss Hye-ra? Young Master Kaien... wait, he's a guy, so skip."
She ticked off S-Class girls on her fingers, dead serious like a detective.
"...They're all great in their own ways."
I stuck to soulless, neutral replies.
Pinpointing one might breed misunderstandings later.
Better to stay Switzerland in times like these.
"...Boring."
Elysia pouted, visibly disappointed.
But her eyes still gleamed with unyielding curiosity.
"W-well then... what about me?"
"...You?"
"Yeah, me. What do you think of me, Evan?"
She tilted her head, staring intently.
I sensed earnestness behind her playful smile and tensed up without realizing.
"Miss Elysia..."
I chose my words carefully, gazing at her.
Golden hair shimmering in the moonlight, mysterious emerald eyes,
and a warmer, kinder personality than anyone.
No reason to lie.
"...You're beautiful and kind."
Her face flushed faintly at my sincere answer.
"...Hee, heehee..."
Twitch, twitch, twitch.
"And... that's it?"
"...Surprisingly mischievous and quirky too."
Elysia let out a small pfft of laughter.
"Busted. I thought I was pretty well-behaved."
"Hardly."
I chuckled along, matching the mood.
Conversations with her really made time fly.
Even in this tense forest cave, she brought a moment of comfort.
"Mind if I ask one now?"
"What is it? Ask away!"
Elysia lit up like she'd been waiting.
"...Why were you so nice to me from the start?"
It popped into my head now that it was just us, but
it was a question I'd wanted to ask for ages.
No matter how good her personality,
I wondered why she'd show this much favor to a guy like me.
She blinked at my question, then smiled softly.
"Curiosity at first. You had all these unexpected sides unlike the rumors."
She paused, then added in a quiet voice,
"But now... I just like you, Evan. That's all."