Crossed Paths, or Not (1)
How come Christine always showed up at times like this? Maxim looked down at Christine, who wore a sheepish smile. It was a gentle smile, like a quiet night. Christine wasn't tall. At most, the crown of her head reached his chest. He hadn't noticed much because she usually wore high-heeled shoes, but seeing her in pajamas and slippers made her look truly small.
The ripples in Maxim's heart gradually subsided. Christine's hair resembled the sun by day and the moon by night. Her eyes, sparkling with the fresh green of new leaves, held Maxim within them.
"Senior?"
Christine tilted her head curiously at Maxim, who remained standing at the threshold.
"Are you all right?"
Christine brought her hand before him and waved it. Whoosh, whoosh—her pale fingers passed before Maxim's eyes.
"Maxim senior? Vice Commander? Did you just wake up? This guy?"
Thud. Maxim's hand came to rest on Christine's head.
"Eh?"
Rub, rub. Maxim stroked her head as the impulse took him. He ran his fingers carefully through Christine's soft, fluffy hair, making sure not to ruin it. Christine froze in place, flustered. Finding her reaction amusing, Maxim stroked her head even more gently.
"Come in."
Maxim stepped back from the door with a playful smile. Christine stared blankly at him from the doorway before her face flushed crimson and she followed him inside.
"So, what brings you here in the middle of the night? Vice Commander?"
Maxim seated Christine at the table and asked. She crossed her arms, a faint blush on her cheeks, looking displeased.
"I told you, I couldn't sleep so I came to find you."
Maxim liked the attitude she maintained. He liked how she seemed to shine brightly, illuminating the darkness.
"Lucky. I wasn't feeling sleepy either."
Maxim sat across from her. Christine tightened her crossed arms and furrowed her brow.
"It's obvious even without looking. You were probably thinking about your ex-girlfriend, weren't you, senior."
Christine spoke in a chilly voice.
"Acting all pitiful, which doesn't suit you at all."
The last words were more like a grumble. Maxim chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.
"Yeah, I was lost in old memories and got a bit sentimental. Crying while looking at the night sky."
"Senior, did you cry?"
"I didn't cry."
As Christine leaned closer, Maxim turned his face away. Christine slightly raised the corner of her mouth.
"You said you didn't cry."
"Who said anything?"
Christine feigned ignorance, looking as if she might whistle at any moment.
"By the way, something just occurred to me."
"What is it?"
Maxim took out two teacups and poured the cooled tea from the teapot. The tea wasn't hot, so it didn't taste very good. He placed a cup in front of Christine. She nonchalantly sipped the cold black tea.
"Tomorrow, we'll begin the full investigation of No Man's Land."
"That's right."
"I'll check on your condition, senior."
Maxim barely managed to swallow the black tea that almost went down the wrong pipe. The cough that followed carried the scent of tea.
"Suddenly?"
"Yes. I haven't checked in a while... and you've probably accumulated some fatigue over time, so just to be sure."
Maxim pinched his nose at the spicy sensation.
"Is that so..."
"Anyway, even if I tell you not to go out or not to fight, you won't listen to me, senior. If you were going to listen, you wouldn't have stayed in this knight order in the first place."
Christine spoke in a sulky voice.
"So, just lie down quietly and take off your clothes."
Christine poked Maxim's chest with her finger.
"Because that's all I can do for you, senior."
Maxim admitted he couldn't win against Christine and stood up. Christine looked at him rising with eyes filled with worry and a hint of sadness.
Maxim, while taking off his clothes, turned to Christine with his shirt half pulled up.
"This is embarrassing."
"What's so new about it now?"
Christine snapped, but a slight blush had risen on her cheeks. Maxim chuckled and removed his shirt, draping it over his arm. His back, ruggedly divided by muscles, was revealed.
"Lie down."
"All right, all right."
Maxim casually hung his shirt on the chair and went to lie down on the bed. On the hard bed, the cold blanket cover touched his back. Christine walked over to Maxim, who was lying with his upper body slightly raised, leaning against the edge of the bed. The cursed scars crossing his body were visible. Maxim touched his scars with a self-deprecating expression.
"Doesn't it look hideous no matter when you see it?"
"...No."
Christine shook her head in denial. She hopped onto the bed beside Maxim and settled in. Her scent wafted over to him.
"Well then, let's take a look."
A white light formed on Christine's fingers, on her index and middle fingers. Christine brought her hand to where Maxim's scars began and ran it along the path of the scars. As she examined the scars, Christine suddenly furrowed her brow.
"Senior, have you tried using Aura Blade recently?"
Maxim flinched at the question. It wasn't exactly recent, but during the selection test, he had almost manifested aura while clashing with Theodora. Maxim smiled awkwardly. Christine's glare was piercing.
"..."
When Maxim remained silent, Christine asked again in a slightly angry voice.
"Have you tried to use Aura Blade?"
"...Yes."
Christine's gaze sharpened even more. Maxim had no choice but to shrink like prey before a predator. Christine let out a deep sigh.
"When was that?"
Maxim hesitated to speak but couldn't withstand Christine's gaze and opened his mouth.
"That... during the selection test..."
"You mean when you were competing with the Commander?"
Maxim nodded like a sinner.
"No wonder your body looked strangely unwell back then..."
"I'm sorry."
"Say sorry to your own body."
Christine removed her hand from Maxim's scar and said,
"The curse has spread a little. I thought it was stopped, but it seems to be progressing again because you tried to use aura."
Christine looked at Maxim and asked,
"Doesn't it hurt?"
"No. I don't feel anything particular."
"I'll stop the progression for now. It will take some time."
Christine spread her palm and brought it over Maxim's scar. Then, a golden magic circle formed beneath her hand. The magic circle began to rotate, interlocking like gears. Maxim felt a warm energy seeping into his scar.
"If only there was a way to reverse it instead of just stopping the progression..."
Christine looked down at her hand resentfully. She grimaced as she tended to Maxim's scar. Maxim reached out to her head. Christine's shoulders trembled slightly at the touch on her head.
"...Thank you."
Maxim continued to stroke her head. Christine murmured in a soft voice, feeling Maxim's touch.
"Me too."
The golden magic circle continued to rotate. Time passed, reaching a point where it should be called dawn rather than night. Christine removed her hand from Maxim's wound.
"It's done. The progression has stopped, so you really mustn't overdo it now. Especially, never, ever draw the Aura Blade. Understand?"
Christine sat Maxim up and earnestly admonished him. Maxim could understand her feelings, repeating it until his ears were calloused.
"Yeah, I got it. I won't overdo it."
"You use the sword incredibly well. You can perform without aura. So, absolutely don't overuse mana."
Maxim nodded. Even after all that, Christine sighed shortly, as if she still didn't trust him.
"If you overdo it after all this, I really..."
"Really what?"
"If it's really, then it's really, okay!"
Christine blushed and got angry. Maxim laughed heartily at her appearance.
"Please don't make people worry... really."
"I won't anymore."
"How many times have you said that now?"
Christine puffed her cheeks and complained loudly. She pretended to be sulky, stood up, opened the door, and stepped out.
"Christine,"
"What."
"Good night."
As Maxim smiled and saw her off, Christine's expression wavered for a moment. But she regained her sulky look and closed the door behind her.
"Senior, good night too."
She left those words behind.
==
Here, the clear sky felt rather awkward instead.
Maxim frowned as he looked up at the clear sky. There were no seasons in No Man's Land. Whether summer or winter, it maintained a constant level. According to what he heard from the Margrave, it was due to the influence of the mana circulating in this area.
"Does everyone understand what phenomenon we're trying to investigate?"
In conclusion, it was weather that was chilly, unfitting for summer. Beyond the sturdy walls of the border region, the investigation personnel were gathered in temporary barracks built after driving out the monsters. The Raven Knight Order, including Maxim, huddled against the chilly weather as they listened to the investigation plan presented by the Margrave. Wind was whistling into the barracks. The Margrave pointed to Roberto and demanded an explanation of the specific details of the anomaly. Roberto frowned but answered the Margrave's question accurately.
"Originally, in No Man's Land, battles with monsters crossing the cliffs to invade the fortress are very frequent. However, recently, their visits have suddenly stopped. So, even if the number increased, there has never been a time when monster appearances decreased this much..."
The Margrave nodded.
"That's the content we need to focus on investigating the most. Going all the way to the End Cliff is so dangerous that we don't usually go there... but this investigation will be an exception. To find the cause, we need to go and observe the monsters' movements directly."
Glance. Theodora and the Margrave's eyes met.
"Follow our troops' guidance well. Although you came separately at the royal family's request to conduct the investigation, during the investigation, think of yourselves as under my command and act accordingly."
"We will do so."
Theodora nodded.
"Good, then I'll assign the missions now."
The Margrave placed the command baton on the table as if sticking it in and said,
"You will be given two missions. Not that you have to do both, but we'll divide your knight order into two large groups."
Tap tap, the command baton hit the table.
"First, the group that will perform the existing missions with our forces at the walls. Second, the group to be included in the investigation forces."
At this point, Christine looked at Maxim. Maxim felt her gaze and responded with a stiff smile.
"Commander, please distribute the personnel."
Theodora stepped forward. In her hand was a piece of paper that seemed to be a list.
"I'll call out the names of those to be included in the investigation forces."
Maxim wondered if it was just his imagination. He felt like Theodora's gaze was directed at him.
"I, Theodora Benning, and Vice Commander Christine Watson will both be included in the investigation forces. Others who will join us are, first, Paola Simon."
Paola nodded calmly. As someone who experienced the incident 15 years ago and would be a great help in terms of combat power, it was natural for him to be included in the investigation personnel.
"Rione Becker, Claude Bentham..."
Theodora continued calling out names from the list.
"...Roberto Miller, and,"
Theodora looked at Maxim. This time, it wasn't just a feeling. Their gazes crossed, and Theodora called out the last person's name.
"Maxim Apparte."
Christine secretly let out a sigh, and Maxim calmly received Theodora's gaze.
"That concludes the list of personnel included in the investigation forces."