Chapter 44
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Comprachicos (6)
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Dizzy. I couldn't steady my body properly. I lay there blankly staring at the ceiling for a long while. My vision felt different from usual, leaving me briefly flustered. But it didn't take long to realize why.
I had traded one of my eyes for it. Losing an eye was far more inconvenient than I'd imagined. First off, my depth perception was completely shot. And worse still was the blind spot.
As proof, I reached for the glass of water right beside me and ended up knocking it over. The moment the shattering glass echoed through the hospital room, someone came rushing in.
"Teacher...!!"
Her red hair whipped wildly from the momentum. Her unsteady eyes brimmed with tears. I gave a faint smile as I gazed at the girl who had grown so much taller over the past year—Helia.
"Welcome, Helia."
"Teacher!!!"
Helia rushed over like a gust of wind and plastered herself to my side. Fortunately, she didn't hurl herself onto me, the injured patient. At least unlike before, she now showed that much consideration.
Thinking it was a good sign, I raised my hand and stroked Helia's red hair. For someone who never bothered with upkeep, the silky texture enveloped my fingers.
"Where are the other squad members?"
"They've all gone to that Yuren Captain right now. Every last one of them, without exception..."
"That's plenty understandable."
Helia spoke with clear resentment, but I shook my head, denying it. After all, the person who'd spent the most time with them wasn't me—it was Captain Yuren.
Moreover, Captain Yuren was in extremely critical condition. It was only natural for people to flock to her. It was time Helia learned that too. I opened my mouth.
"Everyone has their own sore spot. Just as you treasure me above all else, they too genuinely trusted and relied on Captain Yuren—nothing more, nothing less."
"I-is that so?"
"Yes. And it's not like they haven't visited you even once, right?"
"Come to think of it..."
"Then that's settled. Demanding equality in affection is a feat no sage has ever achieved."
Helia had endured a bleak childhood. She lost her parents and scraped by on rotten scraps until I stepped in. In the original story, even her village was utterly destroyed.
That warped affection manifested as an obsessive thirst for power in the original. Now, it had twisted into fixation on me. But if I guided her slowly from here on out...
Her future could change too. And that was a responsibility no one but me had to shoulder. That said, separately from all that—thanks to Helia, I didn't feel neglected.
If I'd opened my eyes to find no one around, even if I understood rationally... as a human, I'd inevitably feel a twinge of hurt. Of course. I pushed myself upright.
"Let me assist you, Teacher."
"I'm fine. More importantly, how many days has it been?"
"It's already been a week since you returned, Teacher."
"A week... Far longer than I expected."
Meaning I'd been stuck in bed without moving for a full week. No wonder my body felt so stiff—proper movement was a struggle. I slowly worked out the kinks as I asked another question.
"Then how is Captain Yuren doing?"
"I heard she's passed the worst danger. She's somewhat stable now."
"I see. That's a relief."
"Lady Cluna said that if treatment had been even ten seconds later, Captain Yuren's life wouldn't have been guaranteed."
Going to Cluna had been the right call. Even with time stop still active, releasing it carelessly could've killed her. That's why I waited until right in front of Cluna to let it go.
And all my efforts up to now hadn't been for nothing. I'd succeeded in saving Yuren, the former captain of the Royal Knights. But that didn't mean every problem was solved.
I had to deal with that fucking clown bastard somehow. Whether it was Yuren or Bayard—they'd definitely suffered at his hands. Otherwise, Bayard never would've had that dream.
Captain Yuren was receiving Cluna's intensive care in the very next room. When Helia and I entered, the girls at her side looked flustered and blurted out excuses.
"Ah, Captain..."
"Th-that... this is..."
"W-we were just gonna head to you in a bit!"
"No need for excuses. It's only natural to worry about Captain Yuren after her life hung in the balance."
And above all, Captain Yuren was prime talent to succeed me as captain once more. Better for them to forge even tighter bonds starting now.
"You're still treating me like captain? Looks like these girls have made up their minds already."
"Yuren, your condition is still..."
"Yuren—stay in bed!"
"What does that mean?"
"...We'll talk about this later. Don't we have more pressing matters right now?"
She forced herself upright. Her black hair barely veiled her hollow chest. But my eyes were drawn more to the hole pierced right through her center.
"Moving now could kill you."
"I'm fine. Just having a clear head is enough satisfaction for now."
"...What do you plan to do in that state?"
"Revenge."
Her eyes blazed with fury. She'd clearly endured horrors beyond imagination there. I looked at her—or tried to, anyway. Even that was a struggle.
By lore, dragons were a benevolent race.
No other species could ever threaten them.
Thus, dragons rarely flew into rage.
But should you ever provoke a dragon's wrath... no species could survive it. Who'd have thought I'd experience it firsthand? Simply standing there was exhausting.
And that fury wasn't even aimed at me! I glanced around furtively. Everyone else was crumbling under her aura. This wouldn't do.
"Quit the pointless stubbornness, Captain Yuren."
"What?"
Whoa, timeout.
The aura intensified, crushing my shoulders. I couldn't hold out and dropped to one knee. Good thing I'd stopped time first—otherwise, total embarrassment.
"Hu, ha... hu, ha."
I steadied my mind with deep breaths. Her rage was entirely understandable. Her comrades hadn't simply died—they'd been openly defiled in ways unfit for any living being.
On top of that, she was far from well by any stretch. Excitement was almost inevitable. But in her current state? She'd likely get wrecked instead.
This wasn't mere serious injury. It was a fatal heart wound. Were she not a dragon—or had the enemy shown no mercy—she'd have died before I could intervene.
...No helping it.
Right now, overwhelming force was the only option.
I activated it. An illusion hit—like lead oozing from my heart. Time stop released simultaneously. I closed in on Yuren, seized her throat, and shoved her against the wall.
Of course, I controlled my strength.
Not slamming her hard into the wall.
Just a light push, really.
Caught off-guard by the sudden move, Yuren couldn't react. And now she couldn't pry my hand free either. I stared at her wordlessly. Clara moved to intervene, but...
"Wait."
"R-right. R-right now, we trust the captain."
"But Yuren needs rest...!!"
Grateful to Ruby and Bayard for trusting me, I turned back to Yuren. She glared daggers, but said nothing more.
"Let's be rational. If you can't even shake off a mere human's grip like mine, what can you do?"
"..."
"Keep your heart hot. Your head cool. Battle basics."
"...Fine. Frustrating as it is... you're right."
She had once led the Royal Knights as captain. Thankfully, my harsh words got through. I released my hold without a word. Then stopped time again immediately.
"Man, this is rough."
Fuck, got chewed out 'cause I was scared. As captain, I had no choice but to step up. Truth is, provoking a dragon like that is suicidal. Normally, maybe I'd chance it.
But in a rage like hers? Fat chance. Still, I couldn't just let her be. She was my successor as captain. I had to keep her alive.
So I rolled the dice. And somehow, it paid off. Swallowing hard, I stood tall again. Anyway—until I passed the position, I had to keep the cool act up.
"...?"
I tilted my head. Right before releasing time stop—glimpsing Yuren's face—her lips had curved upward. Not a sinister smirk, no.
More like she was enjoying something... But I couldn't scrutinize it. Time resumed at once, and her face snapped back to blank.
No way—she liked the neck grab?
Nah, no way.
Must've been my imagination.