Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Appearance
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"Ugh..."
With a faint muscle ache in my arm, I woke up from sleep and sat up.
'How long was I out this time?'
Thinking that, I looked around. The hospital room was empty except for me.
Luckily, I wouldn't have to deal with Ariana's scolding right away.
"Up we go."
I got straight out of bed and did some light stretches.
'Maybe I need to snag a hidden item myself...'
...No, looking at Ruin's current state, even scraping together every hidden item out there, he'd barely manage normal attacks.
'To save the world, he needs at least the minimum stats.'
In my case, as just a direct Holy Knight under the Saintess, I didn't need to reach the level of the absolute strongest. But Ruin absolutely had to become the world's top powerhouse.
This level of aftereffect? I'd just have to grit my teeth and bear it.
At least it was way better than before.
After loosening up, I opened the hospital room door and stepped out.
"Whoa! He's all better!"
"He's super tall!"
"Looks buff!"
"He's handsome!"
"He was bleeding everywhere, but he's healed in just a day!"
"...?"
About ten kids suddenly blocked my path.
"You're that Holy Knight bro!"
"Oppa, you're so handsome!"
"I thought he'd be scary from the armor, but he looks so nice!"
"Oppa, wanna play with us?"
"First Holy Knight I've seen, and he heals crazy fast!"
The sudden situation threw me off for a second, but I quickly pieced it together from their chatter and responded.
I knelt down to meet their eye level.
"Pleased to meet you, ladies and gentlemen. I'm Is Adonis, the direct Holy Knight guarding the Saintess."
"Whoa!"
"Cool!"
"Direct Holy Knight! Sounds so high-class!"
"Holy Knight bro! Are you a big shot?"
"Hm... Technically, yeah, you could say that. After all, I'm directly under the Saintess."
"Whoa!"
"Bro must be super strong!"
"Haha, you could say that."
Objectively, my strength was on the high side. It just seemed lackluster compared to everyone around me and the villains.
I rolled up my sleeve to show my arm muscles. They weren't much—even residual training level—but the kids went wild anyway.
"Lemme hang on!"
"Me too! Me too!"
"Oppa! Me too!"
"Ahaha... Okay, one per arm."
As I was lifting the kids one by one onto my arms...
"Kids! What are you doing?!"
Frelia came rushing from the end of the hall.
"Ah, it's Frelia!"
"Frelia! Your boyfriend's up!"
"We kept an eye on him!"
"This guy's crazy strong!"
"Must be nice dating someone like that!"
The kids greeted Frelia excitedly.
Frelia, who looked like she was about to scold them, instantly broke into a smile.
"D-Dating? We're not there yet, okay?"
"Not yet!"
"What? I saw Frelia going in and out with that Saintess lady all day, so I thought you were together!"
"Dummy, that'd make them both girlfriends?"
"Could happen!"
"...Really?"
The conversation was veering weirdly, so I cautiously chimed in.
"Haha, everyone? Sorry, but could we drop the dating talk? The Saintess and Frelia are way out of my league."
"Eh..."
"Huh?"
"Boo, boring."
"Then can I sneak a shot at the spot nex—"
"Shut it, Mallin."
The kids grumbled among themselves, and I gave an awkward smile as I turned to Frelia.
"Y-You've had it rough, Frelia."
She must've come to wrangle these kids.
For some reason, Frelia had been pouting, but she smiled and walked right up to me.
"You woke up quick! Such a relief. I know magic inside out, but holy power? Not so much... When I heard you were vomiting blood, I was so worried."
"Thank you for worrying. But it's... kinda routine, so no need to fret."
Especially since she was linked to Ruin—wasting energy on me would just crank up the difficulty.
"Huh? No way that's normal!"
But as expected of a kind-hearted heroine, Frelia shot back immediately.
"I treasure you so much, and you tell me not to worry after puking blood? You kidding?"
Oh no. Frelia's eyebrows twitched into full 'I'm mad' mode.
"I'm mad right now."
"...My apologies. That was insensitive."
Yeah, what was I thinking, burdening our sweet heroines like that?
Better to just push Ruin toward that quick turnaround plot twist.
"Exactly! If you're hurt, don't refuse people's worry!"
Only after I apologized did Frelia's face soften.
Then she suddenly hooked her arm through mine.
"...Frelia?"
"There! You just woke up, so I'll support you!"
"No, I'm really fine—"
"Nuh-uh! Just 'cause you feel fine doesn't mean you are! Up in a day? Your body's gotta be wrecked."
'...Is it?'
I ended up convinced by Frelia without realizing.
"Hm hm hum~♪"
And just like that, she dragged me along.
"...By the way, where are we headed?"
"Oh, to see the Mage Tower Lord. She called the Saintess, me, and the Red Tower Lord for a chat today... And you woke up right on time."
"Ah, got it."
Strolling arm-in-arm with her, taking in the place, we soon reached the Mage Tower Lord's private room.
-Knock knock.
"Coming in?"
Frelia knocked and flung the door open.
"...Is?"
"That fucking insane bastard."
"...What are you doing in front of the Mage Tower Lord?"
"...Wow, never thought I'd see the White Tower's ghost bitch like this."
Because Frelia wouldn't let go of my arm, I immediately drew four sets of piercing glares.
"Hm? Something wrong... Oh. Sir Is! You're awake."
Blind, sensing late due to his lack of sight, noticed me.
Thankfully, he missed the arm-in-arm bit and welcomed us with his usual smile.
"Perfect timing. We were just about to discuss intel from the Black Knight. Ah, but for someone who just woke up, it might be too much?"
"N-No... I'm fine."
The real strain was those four stares.
"Good. As expected of a Holy Knight. Well then..."
Even during the meeting, Frelia stayed glued to me.
"..."
And even as the others' gazes drifted away one by one, Ariana's stayed locked on me.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In the pitch-black darkness, a lair accessible only to executive-level Black Mages and above.
"No, seriously, we gotta be careful! If we move now, we're fucked!"
A man with heavy dark circles grabbed the one in pure white robes and mask, utterly out of place.
"You're basically second-in-command after Mocking Deception! We need to build more forces firs—"
"Comrade."
"H-Hiiik!"
The white figure turned, looking down at the weary man, Raising Death.
"Don't you trust me, comrade?"
It sounded almost hurt at first listen.
Raising Death dropped to his knees in panic.
"I do! I-I-I trust our boss! Y-You're the elite of elites among us!"
He even threw up his arms in praise.
At that, the white mask curved into a smile.
"I knew you'd trust me, comrade. Now, shall we really get going?"
"B-But..."
"But?"
"Hiiik! I-I do! I trust only our boss! I-If you need anything, I'll work har—"
"It's fine. You've been working nonstop, so rest. I'll handle everything."
"B-But if I sleep, those bastards will—"
"Reverse."
-Thud.
"Guhhh... Guhuk..."
Raising Death suddenly collapsed, snoring through his nose.
The white one gazed at the fully asleep man and exited the lair.
"Hm? A cleric? Clerics ain't got much cash, but still..."
Emerging into a back alley, a thug approached, mistaking him for a cleric.
"Reverse."
"You're a cleric, right? Back alleys are dangerous—let me guide you out! Just follow me! Or if it's too much, feel free to say no!"
"No need. Help someone else."
"Sure thing!"
A flash of light, and the thug's eyes cleared as he headed deeper to help others.
"Worried about one Holy Knight..."
The Black Mage who wasn't very Black Mage-like had put Raising Death to sleep and reformed the thug.
"Guess I'll just make him a Black Knight."
His name was Reversing Reversal.