Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Successive Visits (2)
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In the quiet silence.
Ceria slowly opened her mouth.
“You’re quite injured.”
The wounds were still there.
They weren’t severe, but the dried blood made them look ghastly.
“I heard what happened. That the problem students came after you and attacked…”
She wore an expression of deep concern.
It looked as if she might reach out and touch my wounds at any moment.
“The truth is… I wanted to see you.”
“—!”
At those words…
Jace’s heart began to pound wildly.
*Whoa, I get the feeling, but calm down!*
My chest throbbed.
It felt awkward because the emotions weren't my own.
Meanwhile, my mind was in turmoil.
*Why? Just why?*
Ceria had kept her distance until now.
That’s why I’d concluded she was done with him.
I had even anticipated a broken engagement, yet here she was, acting the part of a fiancée.
“…”
Did she still have lingering feelings?
Perhaps she was trying to believe in him one last time…
Then again, my recent actions probably made it seem like I’d come to my senses.
What was I supposed to do?
I couldn’t just deny it…
It wasn’t that I disliked her.
They were a handsome couple who suited each other well.
Just as Jace was a young nobleman, Ceria lacked nothing.
Looks, character, skill, reputation.
As a couple, they were perfect.
And that’s what made it dangerous.
If we spent too much time together, she was bound to notice something.
If she were the dense type, maybe, but…
Ceria’s image was the furthest thing from that.
*She’ll sense something is off eventually…*
I might be overreacting.
Still, for now, it was safer to keep my distance.
No, but I’m a gentleman…
I can’t just push away a girl who says she likes me!
I had to change the subject, fast.
I glanced at the basket beside the girl.
“What’s that?”
“I brought some food. I prepared some medicine, too, but I see I should have brought clothes next time.”
*Oh, I’m already done for!*
How was I supposed to hold out when she was this kind and gentle?
I hadn’t been eating well.
And recently, I’d even been attacked by a pack of wolves.
It was as if she’d anticipated such things.
My dear fiancée had come fully prepared.
The only way that was possible was if she’d been thinking about her fiancé this whole time…
“Thank you…”
I had no other choice.
If I were to knock the basket over right now, I’d be a total bastard.
“May I take a look at your wounds for a moment?”
This was getting more and more uncomfortable.
At this rate, it felt like I wouldn’t be able to turn back.
But…
I didn’t know how to resist.
In the end, as always, I surrendered to my instincts.
I was the patient.
So I should graciously accept treatment.
I decided to stop overthinking and keep it simple.
“Please…”
As if she had been waiting for those words.
She took out some ointment and bandages, then rolled up her sleeves.
Then, without a hint of hesitation, she took hold of my body.
Given the situation, I didn’t feel a shred of pain.
I was dying of awkwardness, though.
I grit my teeth and endured, trying not to let it show.
“Take off your clothes.”
“—??”
“You have wounds on your back, too.”
“…”
*What? She wants to see my back, too?*
We may be engaged, but that was a little…
“You’re not acting like yourself. Between us, what’s…”
*Between us? How close were we?*
Slowly, Jace’s memories began to surface.
“…”
Oh, my word…
They hadn’t crossed the final line, but these kids had done everything else!
Well, they had been together for over ten years.
I suppose their displays of affection could be a bit intense.
I resigned myself to it.
There was no way to refuse her touch.
The stranger I acted, the more suspicion I would draw.
Whatever else happened, I had to avoid that.
A sensation that was both cool and soft.
The dizzying feeling was about to drive me mad.
*I’d rather take on a surprise quest…*
I’d sooner risk my life in a fight than deal with this!
I screamed internally.
But Ceria’s touch only grew more meticulous.
I must have smelled awful from not washing.
Yet she wrapped the bandages around my torso with the same unwavering demeanor.
*Jace, you bastard…*
*You abandoned a girl like this and fell into despair?*
*Perhaps…*
Perhaps seeing his own pathetic state, no different from a wreck.
Made him unable to bear being with his perfect fiancée.
In any case.
Now that I was in this body, I had to clean up the mess he’d made.
“That’s enough. So…”
“Have some of this.”
“…”
This was driving me crazy.
A homemade lunchbox appeared from the basket.
I couldn’t resist this.
How could I not eat it?
Not only was I hungry, but I was also desperately craving a proper meal.
Judging by her actions so far.
I half expected her to feed me, but she didn’t go that far.
Nor did she ask, *How does it taste?*
She simply watched me eat with a quiet, satisfied look.
It was kind of cute, in a way.
This was making it impossible not to develop feelings for her…
On top of that, she was a great cook.
It was so delicious I was on the verge of tears.
The very definition of first-class bride material.
The more she shone, the more difficult my position became.
How was I supposed to push away a girl this kind?
Maybe it was better to play along, even if it meant taking a risk…
“I noticed traces of you using mana.”
Her voice grew somewhat serious.
I suspected the real conversation was about to begin.
“You’ve recovered your dantian, haven’t you? I’m truly happy for you.”
“I’m still a long way off. My power is barely…”
“It’s alright. You’ll definitely return to your former self.”
Her tone was firm.
As if to assert her absolute faith.
She gazed at me with unwavering eyes.
Averting her clear gaze, I subtly made my move.
“I’m sorry, but I think that might be difficult.”
“What? Why…”
“Because I can’t promise that.”
“Ah…”
I had subtly revealed my intention to be different from before.
This should cover for any minor oddities in my behavior.
“I see… you’re being stubborn.”
*Huh? When was I being stubborn?*
Just as I felt the conversation was going off track…
“I understand. I’ll respect your wishes.”
“…”
I wasn’t sure, but.
She was clearly misunderstanding something in a big way.
“I’ll wait for as long as it takes.”
As if to say she would believe in me no matter what.
A girl wishing to be with me forever.
Was there anything more beautiful in this world?
In that moment, Jace’s body reacted violently.
It wouldn’t stop trembling, as if it had only ever loved her.
After barely managing to catch my breath, I spoke with difficulty.
“It will be very painful.”
“Compared to you… it’s nothing.”
“It could all end in vain.”
“I don’t care if it does.”
It was no use.
Nothing I said could get through to her.
If her heart was this set.
Then I had no choice but to change my own way of thinking.
“Give me time. I’ll try.”
Right now, I was powerless.
I was far from worthy of embracing her.
I had to reach at least Jace’s peak…
No, I had to surpass it.
Only then would I be worthy.
If I got greedy without being worthy, everyone would end up miserable.
I was unintentionally deceiving the world, but.
It wasn’t my fault, so I felt no guilt.
There was just one exception.
A relationship bound by love.
Because of what happened today, I was starting to feel incredibly sorry.
To shake off this pang of conscience.
I would have to become strong enough to be considered the greatest, to be worthy of her.
“Yes, I’ll wait gladly. Please don’t worry about me and take care of yourself…”
Her voice choked up, and she struggled to finish her sentence.
Before I knew it, a transparent bead formed in the girl’s eyes.
Then, she rested her head against my chest.
Before I even had time to be surprised, my body reacted first.
“…”
A full-fledged lovers’ embrace.
Our chests pressed together, fitting perfectly.
Her warmth washed away all my anxieties.
*Well, I guess this much is okay…*
I was in desperate need of some healing, after all.
It seemed I wouldn't need to get a cat.
* * *
After Ceria left.
I was lost in thought for a while.
“…”
Though a fair amount of time had passed.
The tender afterglow remained.
I needed to take stock of my situation.
Looking at it objectively, I was essentially dropped alone into a strange world.
It wasn't that I was scared, but.
Shouldn't I have at least one person to rely on?
Ceria's affection made me feel alive again.
Now, there was nothing I could do.
Even if I tried to keep my distance, my body reacted on its own.
*Is it right, or is it not?*
Like a civilized person, I had to logically work through this problem first.
By possessing Jace’s body.
I was in a position where I had to bear the consequences of his actions.
The delinquent youths were a good example.
I seemed to have handled that incident well enough, but.
That was likely just the beginning.
“…”
He really should have gone easier on them.
He even harassed powerless female students.
A thought just occurred to me.
Even if he did terrible things to other women.
I had to pay my respects to my dear fiancée for still believing in him.
Anyway, since he’d caused all sorts of trouble like a hooligan.
There must be quite a few students who held a grudge against Jace.
Which meant there was a high probability I would face retaliation.
And of all places, the Hero Academy was a place where violence was permitted.
There were promotion battles and martial tournaments, not to mention practice spars—countless opportunities to humiliate me.
“…”
As some people know, kids can be scarier.
They’re more vicious, more cruel, and quick to cross lines.
*Ugh, this is so unfair…*
I didn’t do anything wrong!
It was a situation I couldn’t complain about to anyone.
If that was the case, I had no choice but to balance the scales.
For all the losses I was taking, I would have to gain something on the other side.
The position of family head that was meant to be Jace’s.
As the heir, I would take over the Crodain Family.
And I would have his fiancée. Only then would things be more or less fair.
“…”
Truly, a miraculous logic.
No counterarguments will be accepted this time.
Anyway…
To claim all of that, I needed power.
Round and round it went, but in the end, I had no choice but to become stronger.
*‘I’ll wait for you,’ she said…*
That’s what Ceria had said, but.
No matter how I thought about it, this was no time to be complacent.
My wounds were treated.
I was well-rested. All that was left was to train diligently.
Exercise was important, but.
I invested my time particularly in meditation.
The condition set by the Student Council.
To return to the academy, I had to demonstrate Sword Ki within a month.
If I failed, all my plans would fall apart.
“…”
It was incredibly difficult.
No, it was close to impossible.
Controlling the mana within the body.
To strengthen the physical form was relatively straightforward, but.
Manifesting Sword Ki was a much more advanced problem.
Jace had reached that stage at the age of thirteen.
Of course, that was by the standards of a genius.
Even with talent, it usually wasn't possible until one's late teens.
However…
I was a complete newbie with no way to catch up to a veteran.
I was gathering the mana Jace had accumulated at a rapid pace, but time was far too short.
By my calculations, it would take about half a year.
But I had just over two weeks left.
“…”
*Isn't there some kind of lucky break I can get?*
I'd prefer to achieve it through effort alone, but.
Since it seemed hopeless, absurd thoughts started to pop into my head.
*Should I go looking for a cliff right now?*
*Sigh, there probably aren't any miracle elixirs in a forest like this…*
As expected, I couldn’t rely on a stroke of luck.
Since it had come to this, I would have to cut down on sleep and push myself.
Just as I steeled my resolve.
An unexpected change occurred within my body.
“—??”
What in the world was happening?
The speed at which mana was gathering increased to an absurd degree.
In the blink of an eye, it had doubled… no, it had more than tripled.
My gathering speed had already been very fast.
Since I was only collecting what was already scattered throughout Jace’s body.
Compared to an ordinary beginner.
What had been about three times faster was now another three times faster, reaching nearly ten times the speed.
A wave of fear washed over me.
*At this rate, my ki and blood might twist and cause me to go berserk…*
“…”
I forced myself to remain calm.
For now, no particular problems had emerged.
I couldn’t stop it anyway.
Forcibly halting the process would be far more dangerous.
*First, I need to identify the cause…*
Mana flowed toward my dantian.
I traced the path of its movement in reverse.
After some time had passed.
I finally managed to pinpoint the cause.
It was, in truth, no different from a fortuitous encounter.
An unexpected truth.
Jace’s body itself was a treasure trove of fortuitous encounters.
The Crodain Family’s influence was immense.
The heir to such a family naturally received many benefits.
He had consumed every rare elixir he could get his hands on.
They were of such high quality and quantity that they still hadn’t been fully digested.
By a stroke of luck, the energy that had been clumped up in the corners of his body was now finally gathering in his dantian.
His future attainment of a seat among the Four Heavenly Kings.
Must have been possible thanks to the power of these elixirs.
“…”
*It makes sense, doesn't it?*
Which made it all the more absurd!
Well, whatever. It’s great.
I’ll welcome this kind of thing anytime!
A smile spread across my face.
I wouldn’t be able to digest all of it at this point, but.
Even absorbing a fraction of it would be enough to achieve my first goal.
A thrill of excitement surged through my chest.
This was more than enough to catch up to the frontrunners.
*Sword Ki, just you wait!*
It was a bit premature, but.
In my mind, I was already aiming for the level of a Sword Master.