Chapter 22: The First Letter (22)
Chapter 22: The First Letter (22)
When I came to, I was in the temple.
I remembered greeting Professor Derek, but everything after that was a blank. It seemed I had passed out.
Then again, it wouldn't have been strange for me to lose consciousness at any moment. In fact, I had already fainted once before Professor Derek arrived, only to barely force my eyes open again.
While the blood loss wasn't extreme, my body was a total wreck. There wasn't a single spot that didn't ache. I was critically injured, at the very least; it was the kind of state where you'd be in danger if you didn't cling to your consciousness with everything you had.
That was why I had staggered to my feet and used the corpse of the wolf I’d slain as a pillow. Its fur was thick and surprisingly plush. It still held a decent amount of warmth, and I had been just about to drift off into a peaceful slumber.
That was when it happened. Professor Derek, whom I had been waiting for so desperately, finally arrived. And with him, a crowd of my fellow students.
Only then, finally feeling safe, did I let go and lose consciousness.
The moment I opened my eyes, a headache throbbed through my skull. I had never once needed the temple’s Concentrated Healing Room during my time at the Academy, yet here I was for the second time in recent memory.
Staring up at the pure white ceiling, I recited a line I’d always wanted to try saying at least once.
"…An unfamiliar ceiling."
"Unfamiliar, my foot. You were literally here just the other day."
I winced at the immediate verbal assault and turned my head. Perhaps because my retinas hadn't adjusted to the light yet, the person beside me was just a blur.
But I knew who it was. We had known each other for far too long for me not to.
"Reto, I’m a patient, in case you haven't noticed… Could you try not to stress me out?"
As I spoke, I let out a series of deliberate, pained groans. Reto, who had been sitting in a chair by the bed reading a book, clicked his tongue and slammed the book shut with a loud thud.
His green eyes fixed on me. His gaze was full of pathetic pity.
"Well, considering you’re the kind of idiot who gambles his life just to look cool in front of a girl, I suppose you are a patient… though the problem is clearly with your head rather than your body."
"Hey, what was I supposed to do? Just leave her there to die?"
I pressed my fingers against my temples, trying to soothe the lingering headache as I argued back. I wasn't wrong, was I?
At that moment, Seria had lost her mobility. With an injured ankle, she had lost at least half of her combat effectiveness. And, though it’s easy to say in hindsight, our opponent was a four-legged beast with superior agility.
It was better for me to stay behind. If I hadn't, Seria wouldn't have lasted an hour. No matter how much of a top student a second-year might be, there are things they can do and things they simply cannot.
Despite my defense, Reto only continued to click his tongue. The look of pathetic disappointment in his eyes deepened.
"Are you stupid? I heard you had that potion Emma gave you. You could’ve just given it to Seria, tucked her away in a tree somewhere, and then made a run for it yourself."
"Oh."
An exclamation escaped my lips as Reto’s words finally sank in.
Now that he mentioned it, he was right. The Scent-Concealing Potion worked on anyone, not just me. What would have happened if I’d given it to Seria?
I could have just kept running, and since Seria’s presence would have been erased, I would have naturally functioned as the bait.
It was a plan that didn't require me to risk my life and actually had a higher chance of success.
Why didn't I think of that? I looked at Reto with genuine admiration. He was shaking his head with his hand over his brow, letting out a heavy sigh.
"This is why you muscle-heads in the Swordsmanship Department are hopeless… Honestly. From now on, you and Celine better ask me before you do anything."
"…No, well, it was such a sudden situation that I couldn't think straight."
"I’m sure. Thanks to that, Celine was crying her eyes out until yesterday. She only went back to the dorms because she was exhausted."
Even at Reto’s sarcastic tone, I had nothing to say and kept my mouth shut.
I felt it was a bit harsh to treat someone who had just woken up from a critical injury like this, but Reto’s words always had a way of hitting the mark.
I must have been so panicked that I failed to choose the best option. It was a relief that I was alive; otherwise, I would have left my family and friends with a horrific memory.
Moreover, Seria would have been plagued by guilt for a long time. To be honest, it wasn't as if I hadn't caused trouble as it was.
Reto was here guarding my bedside, and Celine had apparently been stuck to me all day yesterday. I didn't have a leg to stand on.
I crossed my arms and let out a low groan before raising both hands in surrender.
"Fine, it’s my fault… I’m just a blockhead who does nothing but swing a sword all day, so I couldn't think of it. Happy?"
At that, Reto let out a smug "Hmph" and wore a triumphant grin. It was a face that always made me want to punch him.
It was a shame I couldn't do it right now because my muscles were screaming in protest.
"I’m glad you’ve realized it… And, well. I’ll give you some credit."
"…Credit?"
That was quite sudden coming from Reto, who had done nothing but nag since I woke up. Credit? Was there something I deserved praise for?
When I gave him a questioning look, Reto burst into a fit of chuckles. It was the expression he wore whenever he found something entertaining.
"That 'Yurdina rude brat'—she’s totally fallen for you, hasn't she?"
"What are you talking about… Oh, speaking of which, how is Seria doing?"
I was about to ask for the basis of Reto’s groundless claim when I suddenly thought of Seria and asked.
She was someone who had never been surpassed by anyone when it came to talent with the sword.
She seemed to harbor a deep inferiority complex toward her half-sister, the legitimate heir of the Yurdina family, and perhaps because of that, she feared admitting defeat even more.
I was worried that the events of that day—having to run away and leave me behind—might have wounded her pride. It was just an unavoidable mistake, after all.
However, instead of answering my question directly, Reto only gave a cryptic smile.
"I’m not sure if I should say she’s doing well or not…."
"Don't keep me in suspense."
When a hint of irritation began to creep into my voice, Reto shrugged as if he had no choice.
"She’s been pacing back and forth in front of the temple with a look of utter desperation. I saw her yesterday, and I saw her again today… I heard she does that about twelve times a day."
My hand instinctively went to my forehead. My head throbbed. It seemed that socially awkward young lady was hesitating over whether it was okay to visit a patient.
She should just come in; it’s not like it’s a big deal between friends.
I looked at Reto with a slightly resentful gaze. If he had seen her, he could have just told her to come in.
"I mean, you could’ve just told her to come in, couldn't you?"
"And that’s why you still don't understand the heart of a woman."
Reto dismissed my complaint just like that, adding a click of his tongue for good measure.
"I’m telling you, that 'Yurdina rude brat' had such a mournful look in her eyes. She must be dying of anxiety. Even a girl who acts like an ice statue is still a girl. A senior who collapsed with grave injuries while trying to protect her… and he gave his all to strike down the demonic beasts…."
"…Aren't you exaggerating a bit much?"
"Women have a tendency to exaggerate small things. Especially if it involves a guy with a decent face."
I didn't think that was true, but despite my skeptical look, Reto continued unbothered. He acted with the confidence of a prophet who was used to being stoned for the truth.
"Anyway, the point you need to take to heart is that this emotional tug-of-war is crucial for setting the power dynamic going forward. Show your face briefly when she’s at her most anxious, then talk to her again just when she’s about to forget… Got it?"
Reto spoke as if he were sharing a grand secret, but my reaction was lukewarm. If anything, I shook my head in disapproval.
I looked at Reto with disappointment. A sigh escaped my lips along with my voice.
"That’s just being a playboy."
"Hey, you're the one who asked me to teach you how to pick up girls…!"
Reto seemed indignant for a moment, but then he slumped back into his chair as if giving up. He looked at me with an 'I should have known' expression.
Then, he shifted his gaze slightly. He seemed a bit hesitant, which was unlike him. I looked at him curiously.
Reto swallowed hard as if contemplating, and finally, having made up his mind, he spoke in a low voice.
"…Ian."
"What is it now? Why the serious face…?"
The sudden change in atmosphere left me feeling bewildered. After I stared at him for a long time, not knowing what to make of it, a sigh finally escaped Reto’s lips.
He looked at me with a more serious gaze and spoke.
"You… have you been treating Celine well lately?"
It was an out-of-the-blue question. Thinking it wasn't that big of a deal, I let out a hollow laugh.
The two of them used to fight like cats and dogs. I’d heard they grew up like real siblings, so it made sense. For him to bring up Celine first…
It was rare. I answered without much thought.
"What do you mean, 'treating her well'? We just get along like we always do."
"It would be better if you treated her well."
Contrary to my casual response, Reto advised me with an even more serious tone.
"The world of women is much murkier than you think. If you plan on staying close to that Yurdina brat in the future, you’d better pay attention to Celine too."
"…?"
Reto often said cryptic things, but this was something I couldn't understand at all.
Why? What did Celine and Seria have to do with each other?
But looking at Reto’s face, it didn't seem like he would give me the details even if I pressed him, and since his voice was so grave, I…
"Uh, sure… I’ll do that."
I had no choice but to answer that way. At the very least, Reto wasn't someone who would tell me something that would harm me.
Looking back, I should have taken those words more to heart.