Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Frenemies No More
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Past me was no exaggeration to call a completely different person compared to now.
Even now, I don't spit rough words easily, but back then, even in my thoughts, harsh language never crossed my mind.
Respect for others was ingrained in my body, and whenever a problem arose, I naturally blamed myself and pushed harder.
Just like a new employee always tensing their shoulders and watching their boss's every move.
But people change their personality through the life they've walked.
Through countless regressions, I met all sorts of people, and among them was one who completely flipped my character.
Elion Fleur.
She twisted my innocent heart into something like a delinquent's.
-Wasting time in a place like this is why you can't rank up to mid-tier explorer.-
-Sis, why the hell did you even let a guy like this into the guild?-
Whenever she saw me, she'd pick a fight, nitpicking every single thing I did.
She annoyed me so much that half-jokingly, I seriously considered biting my tongue and regressing.
I learned later, but Elion deeply resented her older sister Elia Fleur getting close to me.
I hated her too.
The enemy who always wedged herself between Elia and me, sabotaging us—we fought endlessly because of it.
She mocked my sluggish exploration skills, and I jabbed at her underdeveloped figure, childish for her age.
We spent days trading barbs, tearing each other down.
'Memories, I suppose.'
They were just arguments, but sometimes voices rose, and we'd hurl words that hurt.
I seriously pondered if leaving the guild was the way to preserve peace for all three of us, but back then, I believed I couldn't conquer the labyrinth without their help, so I endured.
-Still fumbling with this? Pathetic.-
-I'll help. Now we're even.
But human bonds are strange things—live together long enough, and even hatred turns to affection.
Sharing life-and-death struggles in the labyrinth naturally led us down that path.
Before we knew it, both she and I argued less.
We bantered playfully, even shared our secrets.
At some point, I grew closer to Leon than to Lia, and when I snapped out of it...
-Hold out your hand.-
-Warm, right?-
"...Getting all sentimental for no reason."
A past the other person no longer remembers.
This wasn't the time to indulge in nostalgia.
What mattered was building relationships now, not reminiscing about regression days.
"Ugh..."
'What the hell happened to leave her in this state?'
I'd carried her to a temporary base and gathered nearby grass to make a bed, laying her down.
I built a platform to keep out the damp earth, then fetched dry wood and spread it on top.
The lakeside made flint easy to find, so I quickly lit a campfire beside her.
'Sun's setting—night's coming soon.'
Temperatures in the labyrinth plummeted at night.
A warm environment was essential for a patient. Lighting a fire in such an open spot was risky, but unavoidable now.
'Wake up already, you.'
I had mountains of questions.
Why was she in the labyrinth instead of carrying out her Black Claw Guild mission? Where had she gotten these wounds?
'And where the hell is Lia?'
Most of all, her ever-present older sister was nowhere in sight.
The two were inseparable unless something extreme happened—they'd never enter a dangerous labyrinth alone.
They must have been together and gotten separated by some accident.
That was the logical assumption.
'No way they woke Platerria...?'
If Elia had died to that thing, I'd regress right now to change this future.
Of course, rash judgment was foolish. I could wait until Leon woke and heard the full story.
I knew the situation was messy all around, but that's when I needed to stay sharpest.
'Handle the problem at hand first.'
Haste makes waste.
I set aside stray thoughts and focused solely on saving Leon.
'Saved this for exactly a time like this.'
I pulled out the Dawn Bud I'd gotten from the top floor.
Its water droplets, when applied to wounds, healed them rapidly—prime potion material.
One was for the commission; the rest, a surprise gift for Aren. But saving Leon mattered more, so I used them all.
She was highly likely a heroine herself—this investment was far from wasteful.
'The deep slash mark is most urgent.'
On the bone-deep gash, I unhesitatingly dripped the droplets.
"Eek!"
Dark red blood pooled in the deep cut washed away, steam rising.
Unconscious, she still groaned in pain—an instinctive reaction like spinal reflex, meaning the treatment hurt but was working.
Proof of effect, so I calmly kept applying.
'No other major wounds.'
Nothing else needed urgent care.
Lifting her tattered clothes and checking everywhere, no signs of infection or parasites.
Fortune in misfortune. I tore my own shirt to shreds and wrapped her wound tight, forcing a stop to the bleeding.
Clean cloth would've been ideal, but this was the best now.
Simple first aid complete.
This would stave off hemorrhagic shock for a while.
But.
'This is still dangerous.'
Basic bandaging wouldn't cut it—her body was at its limit.
"Hoo..."
Leon’s breaths grew feebler by the second.
Any improvement was wishful thinking.
No guarantees, so more action was needed.
'Wanted to avoid this if possible, but no choice.'
I took a deep breath.
Placed my palm over her wound and channeled my mana into her.
Normally, mixing mana causes clashes, but hers was a flickering candle in the wind—negligible resistance.
I slipped in, amplifying the Dawn Bud's healing with my mana.
A warm light spread from my fingertips.
Like a heartbeat—the pulse of life transmitted through.
"Hoo."
Color returned to Leon's pale face.
Her breaths evened out regularly—she'd passed the crisis.
"Put out the urgent fire, at least."
I'd maximized the Dawn Bud as hoped, anchoring her life.
The remaining issue?
"It's starting."
I clutched my throbbing head.
Saving her was great, but squeezing out every drop of my mana in the backlash wrecked me.
Mental fatigue scraped bottom.
Vision blurred, ground tilted.
Head spun like it might split, strength drained from my body.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Activating Conqueror of the Abyss. Overcoming abnormal status: Fainting. The skill prevented blackout, but I was still powerless.
I'd recover soon, but if attacked now, I couldn't resist properly.
Weeeeng.
'Speak of the tiger...'
The fly men swarm from the valley.
Hiding and watching—they swarmed the moment I collapsed, like they'd been waiting.
'Gonna suck me dry of what little mana I have left.'
Expected development.
These things sniffed out corpses relentlessly.
From the moment I dragged in blood-soaked Leon, I'd braced for their attack.
Even so, I'd poured every ounce of mana into healing her, come hell or high water.
She was on the verge of death anytime; these flies, I figured I could chase off even idle.
'So, take good care of me.'
Time for some carry.
The thought ended as a flash blazed.
Glory's light tore through night's shadows, pouring down.
It filled the area, illuminating the fly men.
They flapped wings to flee but melted pathetically like ice cream in sunlight, splattering the ground.
'Whew, always a monstrous skill.'
Light Extinction.
An AOE skill spreading mana-light to melt targets wholesale.
Even selectively designating victims—a cheat ability.
I turned to my savior from crisis.
"You... you!"
No strength to stand—Leon sat in the grass.
Face beet red, she hastily gathered nearby leaves to cover herself.
Guess she still knew shame.
Then, time to be a gentleman.
"You're awake. Nice to—"
"Shut it!"
Bam!
A fist flew without warning, smashing my cheek.
'Same old her.'
The familiar Leon eased my mind unconsciously.