Chapter 72
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Never Provoke Your Girlfriends (2)
Of course, I had no intention of sending her off alone. I'd planned to split the team appropriately—some to guard the fortress and others to follow Cluna's group. I thought it was a perfect plan.
But what the hell? It ended up just being me and Clara chasing after them. The rest of the squad outright refused to come along. They were convinced there had to be some special circumstances this time.
So, their opinion was that the fewer people who went, the better. But what about emergencies? When I asked that...
"The captain's going!"
"R-right! With the captain there, it'll definitely work out!"
"I'll handle captain duties in your absence."
"...If that's what the teacher wishes... I have no choice but to endure..."
Wasn't their trust level a bit too maxed out? Damn it! Sure, Clara wasn't weak, but she was relatively the weakest in the squad. Right?
And I was even weaker than that Clara!! Damn it!!!! But I couldn't exactly say that outright. How could I tell her that to her face?
Clara was even exuding a seriously heavy atmosphere, unlike her usual self. Ruby of all people had encouraged her, which said it all. How could I object?
Doing so would've been like pouring dozens of barrels of oil on a house fire. In the end, I grudgingly agreed to chase after Cluna with just Clara. What a mess.
"I've found Mother's trail. Let's hurry."
"Right, let's move."
At least there was some hope: tracking would take time. Maybe by then, Clara would calm down. But of course, that didn't happen.
Clara had learned a lot from Cluna. Not quite on her mother's level, but Clara had considerable talent herself—including tracking skills.
Cluna must've been in a real rush too, since she'd tried to cover her tracks, but Clara followed them effortlessly. I couldn't even tell what I was looking at.
Clara kept going almost nonstop. I was dying trying to keep up behind her. In the end, I even had to use time stop just to barely hang on.
"Hold on..."
"Even now, Mother might be... No, no. I can't think like that."
"Uh..."
"What's wrong, Captain?"
"Let's go as fast as we can."
I tried to rest midway because I was exhausted, but how could I suggest that when she was drowning in anxiety? Especially when her mother's safety was at stake.
Thanks to that, Clara and I reached the Lamiat Forest in just three days. The Lamiat Forest was a massive woodland right before entering the Alex Mountains in the central region.
Considering it normally took over half a month on horseback from Lionheart Fortress, we were moving at an insane speed.
Of course, it was possible only because Clara knew shortcuts and we'd gone straight there without detours. Soon night fell, and Clara and I sat by a campfire.
"Simple rations I brought along."
"No appetite. Sorry."
"Eat a little at least. You'll need the strength to keep going tomorrow."
"...Thanks."
Clara had pulled her knees up to her chest. She looked like a kid who couldn't bear the anxiety. For a while, Clara and I just sat there in silence.
"I didn't know there was any race that could track an elf through the forest."
Maybe she couldn't stand the long silence. Clara mumbled around her food and slowly spoke up. I thought it was impressive too. I seriously thought I was gonna die midway, damn it.
Good thing I had time stop and had been training hard in between. Without either, I wouldn't have even kept up with Clara. It was that brutal.
"Am I really that lacking compared to other elves?"
"?"
Wait, hold up. A sudden self-deprecation session here? I looked at Clara in surprise, but she'd hung her head low. My instincts screamed trouble.
"I always brimmed with confidence, but looking back, it's all failures."
"Hold on."
"If it were another elf, could you have kept up, Captain? Is that why I got caught?"
"Clara."
"Someone like me is beyond saving. That's why Mother abandoned me."
"Clara!!"
"...!!!"
Right before she plunged deeper into self-blame, I grabbed her shoulders and shook her. Only then did Clara snap out of it. Tears welled in her eyes.
I'd stopped her, but what now? I couldn't just comfort her with empty words. Mess up, and I'd hit a sore spot or sound insincere.
Worst case, it'd ruin our relationship. But I couldn't agonize long. In that short time, I wracked my brain and let out the most plausible line I could muster.
"Nothing's certain yet."
"Then why did Mother abandon me? Because she can't trust me!"
"Then let me ask you this: why are you so sure of that?"
"Don't change the subject. I don't need lame reassurances!"
Her reaction was fiercer than expected. Damn, that wasn't my intent. I desperately brainstormed. Priority one: calm Clara down somehow. So...
Instead of words, I pulled her into a hug. I worried she'd push me away, but luckily, she didn't. Caught off guard, Clara seemed flustered.
"I'm certain. Your mother doesn't look down on you. She loves you."
"But..."
"Think back to when she first joined the Royal Knights. What was it like then?"
"..."
"She came all the way out of the forest herself because she worries about you. Because she loves you."
What mattered now wasn't the facts—it was getting Clara past her negativity. Even if it was unrelated to the situation, I had to say something positive.
Clara, listening quietly in my arms, hugged me back gently. Her grip was so tight I nearly yelped.
The soft feel of an elf's arms... like hell, her iron grip almost made me scream. Hold on. Hugging too tight makes it hard to breathe...!
"I became a knight to earn Mother's recognition."
"I see."
"So I can't show any weakness."
"More importantly, your hands..."
"So let me stay like this a bit longer. Please."
Damn it.
In the end, I sacrificed my back to calm her down. Once her emotions settled and she regained composure, Clara blushed with embarrassment.
I clutched my aching back and barely stood. Night had passed and morning approached, but my back from last night still throbbed. Could I even keep up with Clara today?
As I pondered that, Clara finished packing the campfire and stood. Hiding my pain, I managed to rise. Looking at me, she slowly spoke.
"Let's chase right away."
"No need to rush?"
"Yeah, we still have time."
"Good to hear."
Pushing like yesterday might actually break my back. At least it was a silver lining. Then Clara, meeting my eyes, flinched and looked away.
"Something wrong?"
"N-no, nothing! I'll go wash my face quick!"
"Take your time."
Please.
My back's killing me.
At first, I just thought he was amazing.
He'd effortlessly neutralized the joint attack from Ruby and me, after all. It even made me frustrated. Inferiority complex... something like that. But it wasn't a bad feeling.
Strange, right? Back at the Royal Knights, Ruby and I were always competing fiercely. Yet losing to a human of all races didn't bother me—in fact, it earned my respect.
When Mother visited, or when we clashed with the demons again, I felt no fear. I believed that with the captain, we'd win no matter what.
Before I knew it, I was following in the captain's footsteps. Gazing at his unwavering back had helped me overcome past fears and reach here. And I felt the same now.
Cold water splashed my face. My heated cheeks cooled a bit. But it was just temporary. Thinking of facing the captain again...
My face flushed red despite myself. Why was this happening all of a sudden? No way... No, impossible. I shoved away the fleeting thought.