Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Mage's Workshop (4)
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The library was a total wreck in the aftermath of the battle.
Lea was tending to Rowen, who had suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed.
"Rowen, come on, snap out of it..."
The fight had been going smoothly, without a hitch.
Unlike the overwhelming pressure it exuded at first sight, the Guardian hadn't been as strong as expected.
By coordinating their attacks in sync with Rowen's movements, they had cornered it before they knew it.
Rowen had judged there were no more surprises and moved in for the kill.
That was when, amid the Guardian's incantation, all the mana filling the workshop converged in one spot, as if it were trying to unleash one final time spell.
"I should have stopped it even then..."
In that instant, as she hung back to brace for the incoming attack.
Something utterly unimaginable happened.
The Guardian, battered and broken, thrust its hand into its own chest.
It muttered a spell that sent chills down the spine just to hear, seemingly summoning something.
In the chaotic moment, Lea's reaction came a step too late.
Rowen must have sensed the eerie energy and tried to sever its consciousness, only to get caught in the creature's final desperate struggle.
"Hic... I should have taken the hit instead! You idiot!"
She had raised her shield to protect someone precious.
Yet what was she so afraid of that she fell back?
Tears streamed from Lea's eyes as she berated herself.
Thankfully, Rowen's chest rose and fell steadily, suggesting no immediate threat to his life.
But having been struck by unknown magic, Lea's heart refused to calm down.
"You always charge into danger alone. What am I supposed to do if you leave me behind...?"
He swooped in to save her on his own terms, only to end up in critical condition every time.
Worry and anxiety for Rowen filled Lea's heart without end.
"If anything ever happens to you, Rowen... I'll follow you and guard you forever."
Lea gazed at Rowen's face, his eyes peacefully closed.
Worried he might stir uncomfortably, she cradled his head in her lap.
She stroked his silvery-blue hair as if handling something precious.
"...I may always be one step too late, but I hope you don't hate me for it."
His eyes, usually brimming with life, had lost their luster.
Still, Lea forced a faint smile as she cared for him.
Because Rowen had told her he wanted her to be happy.
Stroke, stroke.
With the hope that he would wake.
Over and over. Again and again.
Stroke, stroke.
A sensation like someone petting my head.
Feeling a faint headache, I came to and quickly scanned my surroundings.
"Uh... Lea?"
"...Huh?"
What the hell is going on?
Why am I getting a lap pillow from Lea?
And why is she stroking my hair?
Moreover, judging by Lea's expression, something had definitely happened, even if I couldn't remember it.
Her eyes, always sparkling, were dull, wearing only a faint smile.
It seemed I'd blacked out again without realizing it.
What on earth had happened?
Try as I might to recall, all I remembered was Libramon pulling some desperate move I'd never seen before.
It had clearly ripped out its own heart and chanted a creepy spell. Then an eerie energy spread out.
And right after, space tore open, revealing a massive eye from the rift that seemed to have no end...
Ting!
Suddenly, a clear ringing filled my head, and my mind cleared.
As if someone had made me forget a horrific memory...
It felt like an important one, too.
Yet instinctively, I knew I shouldn't dwell on it yet.
...What the hell?
I black out and wake up to everything tidied up.
The outcome was good, but I couldn't shake the lingering unease.
"...Rowen? This isn't a dream, right...?"
"Haha, did I pass out again? Sorry. I must've worried you for nothing."
"...Sniff. Hic..."
Lea stared at me blankly, as if she couldn't believe I was awake.
...Even I had to admit it was bad.
I'd taken a spell head-on that anyone would think, "You don't wanna get hit by that."
From her perspective, she had every reason to think I wouldn't wake up.
"Waaah...! You idiot! Why do you keep doing such dangerous things...?"
"...I had no choice, Lea. If I hadn't stepped in, you could've gotten hurt."
"Who cares about that!"
Tears she'd been holding back poured from Lea's eyes.
She had plenty of reason to worry about my reckless actions...
Always collapsing like that, yet insisting on throwing myself in front.
If I were her, I'd lose my mind too.
Even as her eyes reddened, Lea began scolding me, determined to break my bad habits.
"What am I to you, Rowen? A burden you have to protect? An idiot? A fool?"
"That's not—"
"Then why! You never think about your own body. You always get badly hurt trying to shield me!"
Lea dragged out the festering wounds buried deep in her heart.
Forging them into daggers, she hurled them at me.
Her face twisted in pain as she spoke, tears pooling in her eyes.
"Don't you ever think about how it feels for me to see you hurt...? I don't even know my own feelings anymore. I love you so much, Rowen, but I hate you too."
"...Sorry, Lea."
"Every time you get hurt because of me, it feels like my heart is ripping apart. Right here, inside my chest—it torments me like crazy."
Lea took my hand, guiding it to her chest, as if pleading for me to understand her pain.
Thump, thump.
I felt the pounding of Lea's heart, sensing the anguish she'd endured.
It must have been battering around inside, desperate for relief.
...I'd only wanted to keep Lea from getting hurt.
"You're making me the bad guy again! It's my fault for being weird, so what am I supposed to do when you blame yourself...?"
"..."
"Eek... You were about to say sorry again, weren't you? You didn't do anything wrong, but you're always apologizing..."
I never knew my affection for Lea could become chains binding her.
She cared for me just as much as I did for her.
For some reason, those buried feelings kept surfacing.
As if my subconscious was urging them out.
"...Lea. I knew how you felt. That you treasure me. That you've been living with guilt all this time."
"Then why...?"
"Because I felt the same. Seeing you hurt tears my heart apart. Watching you grieve eats away at me inside."
That's why I couldn't hold back.
When Hardin's gang targeted Lea.
When she was blaming herself in the infirmary.
When Libramon's final act seemed aimed at her.
I'd ignored Lea's feelings because it hurt me less if I took the pain.
"Pretty selfish, right? I ignored your pain just to ease my own, even knowing what you were going through."
"Eek... Hic... "
"Hearing you today made me realize how awful I'd been. How deep the wounds I'd left on your heart."
Because I'm an outsider.
Because I have more knowledge than others.
Because if I suffered a little more, the people I care about could be happier.
...What arrogant thoughts.
Forcing it through wouldn't make those around me happy.
Looking back, they made no sense.
"Can you give me one more chance? I know I can do better this time."
"Eek, waaah... I didn't even realize, and here I was, saying such harsh things to you...?"
"It's fine, Lea. I get it. If it still bothers you, we can call it even since I've done plenty of bad things too."
Her words had stung a little.
But calling those "harsh" when the world was full of far worse...
...Honestly, seeing her sniffling while talking was kinda cute.
Even now, she looked up at me like an abandoned puppy, face tear-streaked.
...Oof. Bad for my heart.
I might have brushed it off before.
But for some reason, Lea looked so adorable I couldn't resist petting her.
Stroke, stroke.
"Don't cry, Lea. You said it yourself—it's hard seeing someone you care about sad."
"Waaah... Okay."
Answering through tears?
I didn't trust her not to cry again, but whatever.
...This was the first time we'd bared our hearts like this.
A ticklish, strange feeling.
Lea seemed relieved too, her sobs quieting down.
Stroke, stroke.
...Her hair's so soft, I can't stop.
As the emotional surge faded, embarrassment set in.
We stared at each other, exchanging awkward glances.
Unable to bear it, Lea bowed her head, face flushed red.
"Rowen. I have something to say."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"I'm not as good a girl as you think I am."
Her revitalized eyes trembled but met mine clearly.
Her face burned red, lips quivering as she mustered her courage.
"I smile every day to seem happy... but inside, I'm covered in wounds. I pretend to care for others, but I'm incredibly selfish."
Lea inched closer, narrowing the distance.
"I love being with you, Rowen. I want you to keep petting my head like this."
Now right in front of me, Lea spread her arms toward me.
"You asked for one more chance, right? Fine. I'll give you as many as you want. But you have to do what I want."
Her eyes locked on mine, arms waving as if demanding a hug.
"When I'm sad, come hold me. When I'm hurt, stay by my side and take care of me. Don't charge ahead on your own."
Her flushed face broke into a beaming smile as she urged me on.
...This deal's too good.
I must have fallen for the charm of this bright-eyed puppy without knowing it.
Before I knew it, I was in Lea's embrace, admitting as much.
"But if you come back hurt alone again, I'll really lock you up somewhere."
A click, like a collar snapping on.
That suffocating yet reassuring feeling.
Wasn't half bad.