Ch.113Chapter 113: A Precious Person I Met Upon Opening My Eyes

#

After failing to properly block Sanguin’s surprise attack, I was unceremoniously slammed into the ground and lost consciousness.

When I barely managed to awaken my fading consciousness, what entered my vision was…

“…What is this?”

The ceiling of Night Haven’s infirmary—something I was seeing for the first time in this timeline.

It was a place impossible not to recognize.

The subtle fragrance of incense burning to maximize the body’s natural healing abilities, made from herbs that only grow in the northern lands.

The ceiling wallpaper depicting a scene of pristine white snow falling—similar to a cradle, but designed with the desire to portray white snow, a sight rarely seen as volcanic ash in these lands.

This scenery, identical to when I frequently visited to treat minor wounds sustained while repelling small-scale monster invasions before my regression, without the slightest difference.

It told me I was now in the infirmary.

“…Am I dreaming right now?”

I muttered to myself in bewilderment, unable to believe the situation.

Even though I’m currently in a weakened state, having recovered less than half of my original power in this timeline.

The one who struck the blow that made me lose consciousness was definitely that Pale Sanguin.

One of the undisputed top three in the Demon Realm.

A being akin to a king ruling over the vampire clan.

After encountering someone whose mere name makes countless people tremble.

I was knocked unconscious by him, and when I opened my eyes, I’m staring at the ceiling as if nothing happened?

I had expected to witness Sizz confronting Sanguin when I regained consciousness.

This scene was far too different from what I had anticipated.

“What on earth happened…”

Just as doubt began to rise like smoke from a kindled bonfire.

[Nothing happened.]

Paphnir’s voice, in a flat tone that seemed to have read my thoughts perfectly, echoed in my mind.

‘…What?’

My already confused mind became even more tangled.

The voice that had urgently tried to wake me as I was losing consciousness now spoke so calmly that it seemed like a lie, saying nothing had happened. There was no hint of deception in Paphnir’s voice.

Yet I couldn’t fully believe it.

‘You expect me to believe that?’

I asked Paphnir about the situation while trying to suppress my confusion as much as possible.

[Calm down. Calm down. Truly, everything ended without incident.]

Paphnir, seemingly trying to dispel my doubts, addressed me in an unusually solemn voice instead of his typical frivolous tone.

[I didn’t know this would work either, but thanks to that, we managed to drive away that mosquito-like fellow, which is fortunate.]

‘…What exactly did you do to drive away that terrifying vampire?’

[I borrowed your body briefly and gave him a scare.]

‘Ah…’

For a moment, my mind went blank.

‘WHAT?!’

I mentally shouted in shock at the fact he had just revealed, which was enough to make me panic.

[Ah, we’re communicating through your mind, so you don’t need to raise your voice like that. I can hear everything.]

‘Is this a situation where I shouldn’t raise my voice?!’

The fact that someone other than the owner used my body would certainly warrant shouting, even if it happened to someone else.

[I apologize for not giving you any warning, as I’ve never experienced inhabiting someone else’s body like this before.]

‘….’

Hearing Paphnir apologize in such an unusually respectful tone made me feel it would be inappropriate to continue being angry, so I stopped.

‘It seems you remained conscious throughout. Please tell me slowly what happened after I passed out.’

I changed the subject by asking Paphnir what had happened to make Pale Sanguin retreat.

[Nothing much happened. Really, nothing much.]

Having accepted my apology, Paphnir dropped his respectful tone and recounted what had occurred during the approximately ten hours I was unconscious.

Starting with how he, though unintentionally, briefly moved my unconscious body and successfully drove Pale Sanguin, the threat, outside the fortress.

Apart from that, everything had ended safely and smoothly, he explained in a matter-of-fact manner.

“…”

Strangely, upon hearing a certain part of Paphnir’s account, I had to cover my face with both hands to maintain my composure.

What did I hear that made me cover my face to manage my expression?

After Paphnir, having completed his task, sat down on the snow and fell asleep to end his possession of my body.

Sizz, seeing this, dropped her holy sword on the ground, forgetting to dismiss it, and rushed to where I had collapsed, embracing me with a pale face.

The joy I felt imagining Sizz worried about me.

The guilt I felt for causing her concern.

And the regret for not properly feeling Sizz’s anxious voice and warmth as she worried about me.

These emotions disrupted the bewildered expression I had upon regaining consciousness—how could I not cover my face?

[…So that’s what made your expression falter.]

‘It’s only natural to feel embarrassed for worrying someone you care about.’

[You’re truly destined to be led around by the nose.]

‘I’d be happy to be swung around by my hair or whatever, if it’s her.’

[…You should stop talking.]

As I listened to Paphnir’s ceaseless explanation of Sizz’s reaction upon seeing me collapsed and what happened afterward.

I was simply relieved that yesterday evening’s tense situation had passed without anyone getting seriously hurt, except for me.

#

Though it clearly wasn’t his intention.

Feeling quite apologetic about possessing my body and moving it without my consent.

Paphnir kindly told me everything he saw, heard, and felt when I asked what happened after I fainted.

Starting with how Sizz, shocked at seeing me collapsed with my head drooping in the snow, embraced me tightly.

He also told me how my sister and Lord Nighthart, sensing a powerful presence entering the fortress, quickly arrived at our location, allowing me to be swiftly transported to the infirmary.

Above all, he briefly informed me about the situation regarding Jessica, the dhampir girl who had caused this incident.

[Your sister took that dhampir girl to her office for questioning. Though it doesn’t seem like it will be conducted in such a heavy atmosphere.]

With these words, Paphnir’s voice stopped echoing in my mind, as if there was nothing more that happened while I was unconscious.

‘I see.’

Having heard all there was to hear and confirmed that the situation ended safely.

I was tempted to go back to sleep to clear my head, which felt heavy after just waking up.

But I could sense concern in Paphnir’s voice when he mentioned Jessica being questioned by my sister.

‘You seem worried about that half-blood girl.’

When I pointed this out.

[I told that mosquito that the Empire doesn’t persecute half-demon breeds before driving him away, so if something happens to that dhampir girl, I won’t have anything to say to him.]

Paphnir’s honest voice, concerned about breaking a promise once made, echoed in my mind.

Mosquito…

I almost laughed at how casually he referred to the being who was essentially the king of the vampire clan that rules the night.

But even though they were enemies, Paphnir’s concern about keeping a promise once made struck me as quite noble.

In normal circumstances, this would have been the perfect opportunity to tease him about using my body as he pleased.

‘Nothing bad will happen. She hasn’t let her vampire instincts take over and sucked blood, she just couldn’t control the slight demonic energy accumulated in her body and left minor marks around the fortress. The punishment will likely be nothing more than confinement.’

Only words to ease Paphnir’s worries came from my mouth.

‘And if the punishment is more severe than that, I’ll try my best to reduce it.’

I spared no effort to ensure the verbal promise made between Paphnir and Sanguin while I was unconscious would be properly fulfilled.

[…Thank you for going that far. I truly appreciate it.]

Paphnir’s calm voice, seemingly touched by my efforts to dispel and ease his concerns, echoed in my head.

‘You prevented an unfortunate incident from occurring in the fortress, so this much effort is the least I can do.’

I humbly dismissed it as nothing special.

By this point in our conversation, I realized that although I hadn’t sustained any wounds.

The fatigue accumulated from this still-frail body engaging even briefly with a being of transcendent power was not insignificant.

‘Well then, my body doesn’t seem to be fully recovered yet, so I should get some rest.’

I greeted Paphnir and slowly closed my eyes, intending to take a rest to restore my body and mind from fatigue, but.

[…Before that, a moment.]

Unlike when he expressed gratitude, Paphnir’s slightly stern voice stopped me.

…What is it?

He seems to be stopping me from just going to sleep, but why does his voice carry such a sense of pressure?

Desperately trying to control my body that was unconsciously shrinking back, I waited for what Paphnir had to say.

[…Your growth is faster than I thought. But after experiencing yesterday’s situation, I feel the need to train you more harshly.]

A pronouncement that seemed to ignite a fire in my heart, which already wanted nothing more than rest.

[Rest comfortably today, but from tomorrow on, we need to have a meeting before you go to sleep.]

…My mind went blank.

The fact that I would have to contend with Paphnir, who wore mysterious armor that couldn’t be scratched, let alone marked, made my already heavy body feel even heavier.

[Well, you did well… for now, go to sleep.]

As my mind was going blank and my eyes and consciousness were about to fade, I heard Paphnir’s voice, tinged with a decent amount of approval.

Yes, if I sleep now and wake up, my heavy body will recover, and I can take another step toward my goal of becoming stronger.

With that thought, I fell back asleep.

“…Hey, Sizz.”

“…”

“I’m fine, so you don’t have to stick so close.”

“…I’m not fine.”

“…?”

“This is punishment for fainting in front of me and making me worry, just like before.”

“…”

No sooner had I awakened from my deep sleep than I found myself breaking into a sweat trying to soothe Sizz, who had burst through the infirmary door and attached herself to my side.

The fatigue I had dispelled through sleep was building up again.

But it was quite a pleasant kind of fatigue.

Even though Pale Sanguin’s sudden intrusion had rendered useless the knowledge I’d gained from records before my regression.

Thanks to my efforts, we were sending off the Subjugation Festival without anyone getting hurt.

There’s still time left until the New Year, when the Subjugation Festival ends.

I was a bit worried about what unknown events might unfold during that period.

But unlike my past, when I was consumed by inferiority and blindly pursued strength alone.

“I’m sorry. I won’t get hurt next time, so please don’t be angry.”

After hearing my sincere apology.

“…I was really worried.”

With a voice that conveyed her concern for me even without explanation, having this precious person by my side.

I was confident I could overcome anything that might happen.

The Subjugation Festival is gradually reaching its final stages.