Chapter 117

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Isabella demanded a detailed explanation of the situation at the time, but unfortunately, there was nothing more I could tell her.

At that time, I was in a state where my consciousness was flickering like someone intoxicated by medicine.

I was in a dreamlike daze until Eugene reconnected my separated body.

Looking back, I really feel sorry for Eugene. He’s the one who put my spilled intestines back into my body, dragging them along the ground. Touching soft organs with his bare hands must have been traumatic. Visually, it was the worst. Even though Lucia is a dazzlingly beautiful girl, being half-torn apart makes her look just plain horrifying.

Yes, I’ll definitely repay this debt.

I’ll cover up that grotesque memory with another one.

But what should I do…?

Should I strip naked and bark like a dog, like I did with Frey? Wiggle my butt like a tail and lick his fingers?

Hehehe, what am I even saying? That’s too much. Eugene is different from Frey, right?

Anyway, there was very little I could do to answer Isabella’s demands.

I couldn’t remember properly, so even if I wanted to explain, I couldn’t.

I shared the fragments of memories that occasionally came back to me, but they weren’t proper information.

“You’ve been through a lot. The information you’ve provided will definitely be of great help. You must be tired, so rest comfortably.”

Perhaps she thought it was a waste of time to continue listening.

Isabella stood up from her chair and said that.

Throughout the conversation, her expression had been frozen and stiff, but at the very end, she had a soft smile on her lips.

Given her personality, which values talent, she probably found us commendable for bringing back important information despite being students. Maybe she saw us as promising rising stars?

After that, the adults left the sickroom. It seemed they planned to discuss this matter in a place where we students couldn’t hear. Whatever conclusion they reached, my part was done. The rest had to be entrusted to them.

When the captain of the 3rd Division, the vice-captain of the 2nd Division, and even the homeroom teacher of Class A disappeared, only Eugene and I remained in the sickroom.

“Today was really eventful.”

I sighed deeply and said that.

The appearance of the devils, and the battle with the named monster.

The day I had been looking forward to wasn’t supposed to be like this.

I had planned to enjoy the cherry blossom festival with Eugene and deepen his relationship with Alice.

I wanted to take a walk in the park together, eat snacks, have heart-to-heart conversations, and gradually break down the walls in their hearts.

However, the peaceful day I had envisioned was painted with the stench of blood.

“I’m sorry. Because of me, you got involved in this…”

If I hadn’t persuaded Eugene to go to the cherry blossom festival, he would have spent the weekend as usual. He wouldn’t have been hurt or hospitalized. Of course, our protagonist wouldn’t think that way at all.

“No, don’t apologize. You don’t need to.”

Eugene smiled gently, as if to reassure me.

“Rather, I’m grateful. Because I was there, I was able to save more people. I was able to protect more people’s futures. If it weren’t for Lucia, I wouldn’t have been there today. If that were to be the case, I wouldn’t have been able to save those people. I wouldn’t have been able to gather information about Astaroth.”

That was the expected response. Our protagonist is always sincere when it comes to protecting people.

It was a bit pitiful that his obsessive sense of justice stemmed from the powerlessness he felt five years ago, but that’s just how he is.

He tries to absolve the guilt of failing to protect Yui by saving others. It’s a kind of vicarious satisfaction.

His compulsion, born from trauma, only eased after he found a loving partner he could rely on. For Eugene’s sake, I should try to help him get along with Alice.

Objectively speaking, Eugene is a good person, right? He’s kind, capable, and has a decent face. He’s a man who will become a savior who saves the world in the future. As Alice’s guardian (self proclaimed), I can’t let such a good groom candidate slip away.

“…?”

I tilted my head in confusion as I turned to look at Eugene. He had a hesitant expression. If he had something to say, he should just say it, but why is he acting like that? Even though the high-ranking adults had left the sickroom, his face was still red.

Then I nodded with an “Ah.” I was still holding Eugene’s hand. It felt warm and nice, so I had done it unconsciously. Holding hands like this might be uncomfortable.

Only then did I realize why Eugene was hesitating. He must have thought I was holding his hand because I was anxious, right? He couldn’t bring himself to ask me to let go, even if it was uncomfortable.

“Ah, sorry. I was holding your hand the whole time.”

I subtly let go of his hand. Eugene wiggled his fingers a few times, regaining his freedom. If it was that uncomfortable, he should have just said something. Being too kind can be a problem too.

“…Um, I visited your sickroom earlier.”

Eugene spoke cautiously.

Yes, I know. I was awake at the time.

“But you were sleeping, so I just left. Alice was there with you, so what is she doing now?”

Hehe, are you worried about Alice?

Good attitude. Eugene gains 4 Lucia points.

I chuckled and answered.

“She fell asleep. She must have been really tired.”

“I see. I was worried because she seemed very tense.”

“A lot happened today. I think she’ll be fine after a good sleep.”

“That’s a relief.”

Even I thought Frey was overly cynical at that time.

She practically chased Eugene away, no, she really did chase him out.

It’s natural to get angry if someone interrupts a heated moment.

However, from Eugene’s perspective, who didn’t know the full story, it must have been quite confusing.

For Frey’s sake, I should explain here.

Someday, Eugene will notice Frey’s existence, and I don’t want him to have a bad impression of her.

“About Alice, she was very angry. Because of me.”

“Because of Lucia?”

“I got hurt a lot, didn’t I? Thanks to my super regeneration, I’m fine, but an ordinary person would have died. She was already stressed a lot from the accident during the last field training, and then I hurt her again. Alice cried herself to sleep. It’s all my fault.”

It’s not a lie.

She really cried herself to sleep.

Frey is Alice, so I didn’t say anything wrong, right?

“…It’s not your fault.”

“Thank you for saying that. Hehe, I always seem to be in your debt, Eugene.”

If Eugene had arrived late during the field training, I would have been Astaroth’s slave without a doubt.

If Eugene hadn’t been there today, the damage from the monster’s attack would have been even worse.

“Eugene.”

The world works in a balance—if you receive something, you should also give something in return.

Taking without giving back is just shameless, isn’t it?

I placed a hand on Eugene’s shoulder and said,

“Your muscles are too tense. You’ll probably suffer from muscle pain when you wake up tomorrow.”

“Ah, you’re probably right. Don’t worry about it. I’m used to muscle pain.”

“Should I give you a massage? I’m confident, even though I look like this.”

I’ve only read human anatomy books, but hey, it should work out somehow, right? Eugene’s body is sturdy, like that of a normal supernatural, so if I press hard enough, the knots should loosen on their own. It might hurt, but it’ll feel better afterward. Probably…

“…Thank you, but it’s okay.”

My sudden offer seemed to surprise him.

Eugene declined in a small voice, showing his reluctance.

Last time, he let me press on his stomach, so why is he acting so strange now?

“You don’t have to feel burdened. I’m doing this because I want to. You’ve done so much for me. I want to repay you, even a little.”

“No, it’s not that…”

Eugene pointed to his hospital gown. When he slightly lifted the top, the bandages hidden beneath the blue men’s gown were revealed.

“It’s because of my injuries. There are no serious wounds, but I need to be careful.”

“Ah…”

I forgot about that. He was hospitalized with all kinds of cuts and bruises all over his body. His wounds haven’t even healed yet, and if I tried to massage him, it would only cause more pain. Instead of feeling refreshed, it would just be agonizing. Ugh, Lucia is such an idiot. I even forgot something so simple.

“Thank you for caring. Your concern alone is enough.”

Eugene smiled awkwardly, not like he was lying.

Even though he said that, I still want to do something.

It’s easy to forget because he fights so skillfully, but today was only Eugene’s second real battle.

In his first real battle, he fought a high rank monster, and in the next, he faced a named monster.

Unlike me, who easily shrugs off most injuries, Eugene ended up hospitalized again.

Even if it’s not a serious injury, an injury is still an injury. Pain is pain.

On the outside, he might look fine, but both mentally and physically, he must be exhausted.

Originally, it was Alice’s role to comfort Eugene when he was tired. However, the two of them aren’t in that kind of relationship yet. They’re still at the stage where they blush and have awkward conversations. So, until Eugene and Alice’s relationship deepens, I planned to temporarily take on that role.

I’ve worried before that if I get too close to Eugene, he might fall for me instead. But I shook my head and dismissed that thought. 

What kind of relationship do Eugene and Alice have? They’re the protagonist and the main heroine, after all. Thinking about their relationship in the novel made me realize that my worries were unnecessary. The sisterly bond is unbreakable, and Alice is a goddess.

Sometimes, the way Eugene looks at Alice, or the way Alice looks at Eugene, is incredibly intense.

My interference has caused the protagonist and main heroine’s romance to take a slight detour, but they’re steadily growing closer.

Originally, in the novel, even when Lucia tried to seduce Eugene in her birthday suit, he responded like a stone Buddha.

I can’t even imagine Eugene falling for someone other than Alice.

“I wanted to help…”

I muttered with a sullen expression. As a heroine, I tried to fulfill my role by comforting him, but I couldn’t think of a proper way to do it.

Even if I asked Eugene directly what he wanted, he’d just say it’s fine. He’s the type who can’t use a wish ticket even if you give him one.

If I push too hard, it’ll only be a burden…I guess there’s nothing I can do right now. The only thing I can do is keep him company so he’s not lonely.

“Well, you know…”

Eugene scratched his cheek.

His eyes, clear like a cloudless blue sky, flickered with a subtle unease.

“I can’t get a massage because of my injuries…”

Eugene couldn’t finish his sentence.

I looked at him with a puzzled expression.

What is he hesitating to say?

Not wanting to rush him, I waited patiently. Eugene then spoke with an embarrassed expression.

“But maybe, like last time, you could press on my hand?”

 

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Eugene wants to hold hands.

But he can’t say it honestly.

He’s too embarrassed.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Eugene’s potential W doesn’t stop the fact that Angelica was only mentioned twice during the entire information session. 

Yes, I’m still bashing her, smh!