Chapter 84
Slowly, I raised my hand to grab his shoulder and whispered right in his ear.
"I'm tired."
My overworked right arm's muscles trembled, and my left arm and shoulder—pierced by venomous fangs—burned with pain. The tension that had gripped my body while facing the calamity melted away in an instant, leaving me like a marionette with its strings cut.
"Can I rest a bit now?"
I had no regrets about always choosing my best path. But it had been hard. So very hard. Hard enough that I wanted to lean on someone, just for a moment.
"Kashmir..."
Rainer whispered my name like a sigh, his face twisted. His calloused fingertips gently brushed my eyelid, closing my eyes.
"You did well. Rest."
His tender voice seeped into my ear, and I let go of all tension. I knew there was plenty to check and that I shouldn't rest here, but my poisoned body refused to listen.
Just a little rest won't hurt. I've got Rainer watching my back.
His sturdy arms supporting me felt like the birth of a trustworthy comrade. Even as I told myself this wasn't right, the tension kept easing away. Once my eyelids closed, they ignored my brain's commands.
"When you wake up, everything will be sorted."
Under his warm whisper, like a lullaby, I slipped into sleep.
Crackle, crackle.
I opened my bleary eyes to the warm touch on my skin and the peaceful sound of burning firewood. My body, once boiling with fever from the Harabana's poison, now carried only a faint warmth. Feeling my throbbing muscles had subsided, I instinctively scanned my surroundings warily as I propped up my upper body.
Swish.
As I moved, the black blanket draped over me slid down. It wasn't mine, so I tilted my head for a moment, but the scent tickling my nose made its owner obvious.
Rainer's.
Thick, heavy rosewood. It suited his upright, magnetic presence perfectly. Sensing Rainer nearby, I slowly looked around.
I was in a cozy cave. Clean, save for some moss and vines—no traces of beasts. Rainer must have carried me here after I passed out from the poison.
...Warm.
I draped the fallen blanket over my back and shifted closer to the campfire blazing in the cave's center. Still half-dazed, I warmed myself by the flames—likely piled by Rainer—when a voice came from the entrance.
"You're awake."
I turned at the familiar voice.
"Sir Ainheart."
He smiled faintly at my quiet call and strode toward the fire.
"How's your body?"
"Aside from a slight fever, it seems mostly recovered."
I rolled my shoulders to gauge my condition. Before, severe poisoning with high fever would've required brute endurance or an antidote. Now, I'd recovered naturally in half a day. Ever since joining the Crisis family, my obsessive training and ample nutrition had dramatically sped up my recovery.
"That's a relief. I brought some butchered Harabana meat in case you were hungry."
"Ah, can I help?"
"No. Rest easy, miss. I'll handle it."
His expression said he'd scold me if I even tried to stand, so I stayed put. I watched him idly for a bit, then slowly leaned against the cave wall.
Rainer's help was huge, but even without it, I'd slain the Harabana far faster.
Normally, it would've taken over an hour of fighting. This time, barely twenty minutes. My growth was undeniable.
And I wasn't badly hurt.
Normally, I'd have collapsed from the poison right after, unable to even stand—thanks to my weak defense and stamina. But consistent defense drills and conditioning had strengthened me; a half-day's sleep restored me almost fully. I couldn't help but feel proud.
And Rainer deserves the most credit.
I glanced sidelong at him rustling by the fire. He'd skewered a huge chunk of greenish meat on a branch and was roasting it over clumsily made supports.
Without Rainer, I wouldn't be this strong.
Recalling our weekly training sessions, I chuckled softly. His devoted guidance had brought me near the average Sword Master level, and I was on the verge of surpassing him in defense and stamina.
What a grateful soul.
No matter that it was his superior's order—pouring in that much effort couldn't have been easy. As I gazed at him warmly, he—grilling the meat with his usual blank expression—sensed my stare and slowly spoke.
"Need something?"
I always thought it, but Rainer's voice was so gruff. Anyone else might flinch at the utter lack of emotion, but by now, I knew it was just him.
I smiled faintly and shook my head.
"No. Just expressing my thanks to you."
Twitch.
Oh, he's blushing.
I stifled a laugh at his ears turning red like spilled paint. Sculpted face, mechanical demeanor—and yet he blushed so endearingly.
Rainer turned his head with a fake cough.
"...No need for thanks. Without you, miss, I wouldn't have survived the Harabana."
"Not just today—I'm grateful for all your help so far. You even made time for my training."
His lips stiffened at my soft whisper. He always showed that reluctance whenever I hinted at being Mir.
Bowing his head without reply, Rainer silently tended the perfectly cooked meat.
He's definitely from the Cartel, but why act like this?
He never spoke of our past. Never even mentioned me being Mir.
I pouted and stroked my chin.
When I'm strong enough to fight back-to-back with you. Then, I'll come find you myself.
I vividly recalled his words from the day we'd settled things. Those golden eyes, brimming with tangled emotions, staring straight at me.
The Cartel even trembled back then at just needing protection. Embarrassed to reveal himself since he's still weaker? He's a Sword Expert, I'm a Sword Master... Maybe he'll open up once he reaches Sword Master?
Lost in thought, I heard Rainer—who'd finished cooking—call me.
"Miss Crisis. Time to eat."
"Ah, yes."
I snapped to and stood, then froze at the billowing white shirt.
Eh?
It was far larger than my usual size. Like wearing a bedsheet.
Blinking rapidly, I scanned myself. My suspenders were snapped, leaving only pants; my harness was gone. And that rosewood scent enveloping me—I'd thought it was from the blanket, but no, it came from the shirt I was wearing.
"Miss?"
Rainer, frozen mid-rise in an awkward pose, eyed me as if asking why I wasn't coming.
I hesitated, then slowly spoke.
"Sir. Am I... wearing your clothes right now?"
Thud.
Something dropped from his hand. Rainer's face flushed in an instant. He shot to his feet and strode toward me.
"It's not that! Not what you're thinking! I can explain everything!"
"No, I wasn't thinking anything, but—"
"I did nothing disrespectful! Believe me!"
Assuming I'd misunderstood, Rainer—uncharacteristically flustered—began babbling incoherently. Beet-red, he couldn't even touch me, just fidgeted. Blinking at him, I couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
So unlike him.
Long ago I'd realized it, but Rainer was actually pretty cute.
As I giggled, he stared blankly, his face growing even redder.
"...Really, I didn't do anything weird."
He mumbled, covering his mouth with the back of his hand, eyes averted. He looked just like a boy shy around his first crush, stirring my mischievous side.
From my half-risen pose, I plopped back down, crossed my arms, and looked up at him.
"First off, changing my clothes is suspicious enough. What did you do?"
My voice dripped with mischief anyone could hear, but his feverish brain—ears practically steaming—missed it.
His pupils shook, as if under interrogation, and he spoke without meeting my eyes.
"After you fell asleep, I carried you back toward the hunting tournament camp. But I couldn't."
"Why?"
His flustered face grew slightly serious. Still red, he carefully met my gaze.
"There was a purple barrier between our location and the camp."
Purple barrier.
That single phrase sent a panorama of scenes flashing through my mind. My face hardened.
How could I have forgotten this?
I frowned and pressed my forehead. Even as my past-life memories faded and the details of Fairy's Night slipped away, I couldn't believe I'd overlooked this event.
"You probably could've broken it, but not with my power. I tried tracing its origin, but it wasn't mana-made—just emitted a strange aura with no traces."
Of course. The original story said even a Sword Expert couldn't break it. Made with black magic, no doubt.
Finally piecing together the original plot with the present, I pressed my temple hard. One thought dominated my mind.
Alessandro, Leo—they're in danger.
He was.
"Understood. So what next?"
With my face grim, I felt Rainer's worried gaze on my skin. Forcing a casual smile to ease his concern, I pressed on.
Still faintly flushed, he replied.
"You developed a high fever from the poison. Covered in Harabana blood, you weren't clean, so I..."
"Washed me?"
No wonder I'm so clean.
I'd assumed a damp cloth wipe-down, but he'd fully bathed me.
His ears flushed anew. Knight though he was, his skin was pale, hair bright silver-gray—the blush was impossible to miss.
Amused, I eyed him with a hint of laughter; his golden eyes rolled away, avoiding mine.
"...Found a lake nearby and washed you there. Couldn't leave the poison lingering on your skin."
"Hoo..."
"...Blindfolded you with cloth. Didn't touch your lower half. Believe me."
I knew better than anyone that Rainer couldn't lie. Nodding as I barely held back laughter at his earnest plea, I reflected that a lifetime as a mercenary made seeing my upper body no big deal. My chest was bandaged anyway.
"I trust you completely, of course. Thank you for looking after me—you must've been exhausted after the fight too."
My soft whisper finally drew his gaze back to me. His lips curved up faintly, but unmistakably.