Chapter 119

Ｒ​ea​d‌ ​ｏ&n; ΚａṫṚεäd‍&i;ngC​ａſe​

Even after the visitors left the sickroom, Eugene’s heart continued to race, making it difficult for him to calm down.

“Today was really eventful.”

Lucia sighed in relief, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

It seemed that meeting with the captains of the Celestial Corps had been very stressful for her.

She couldn’t hide her unease and clung to Eugene’s hand, seeking something to rely on.

Eugene understood her feelings.

When he heard that the captain of the 3rd Division was coming, he was also surprised.

The captains are the seven pillars that support the Celestial Corps.

They are the pinnacle of all supernaturals.

They are Eugene’s goal and dream.

The ideal he has vowed to reach someday.

Though he didn’t show it, he had to make an effort not to stutter when speaking to them.

However, the real reason Eugene was so nervous was different.

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

Lucia spoke in a bitter voice.

Eugene only realized what she said a beat later.

All his focus was on their clasped hands.

Was she still uneasy?

Or had she simply forgotten that they were holding hands?

Lucia was still gently holding his hand.

He didn’t dislike it. No, he couldn’t dislike it.

However, it was hard to control his racing heart.

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

Eugene forced a smile, his lips trembling slightly.

“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.”

He knew how fleeting human lives could be.

He had experienced firsthand that broken lives never return.

What’s precious is always trampled upon so easily.

That’s why Eugene was truly grateful to her.

Because he happened to be there, he was able to save people.

If he could save even one more person, he would endure even being cut to pieces.

“…?”

…I was going to say something more meaningful.

I wanted to express my gratitude so she wouldn’t blame herself.

But Eugene could only convey a fraction of his true feelings. The growing anxiety stifled his words.

His heartbeat was too loud.

What if Lucia hears it?

His palms were sweating like they were malfunctioning.

Wouldn’t it feel sticky and unpleasant?

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

Eugene’s anxious thoughts ended when Lucia let go of his hand.

The warmth that had been wrapped around his hand was gone, leaving only an empty sense of loss.

His gaze unconsciously followed her hand. Lucia’s right hand, which had been holding his, was glistening with sweat. 

Whose sweat was it? Eugene’s face burned, and he couldn’t lift his head. He felt like he would die of embarrassment. The awkwardness of having soiled her hand with his sweat made his head feel like it would explode. 

Did she let go because she felt uncomfortable? If so, Eugene wanted to bite his tongue out. He wanted to die.

“…Um, I visited your sickroom earlier.”

To distract himself, Eugene brought up a different topic.

Trying to calm his racing heart, he tightly closed his eyes.

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

Did she return to the dormitory after visiting?

Judging by the mood earlier, she might have stayed with her all day.

“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.”

Alice was unusually irritated when Eugene visited her. She seemed to have been under a lot of stress because of today’s events. 

Eugene, who was also feeling exhausted, could understand Alice’s mood. Corpses. Blood. The smell of blood. The sound of destruction. Though he didn’t show it, Eugene was physically and mentally drained.

If he had been alone, he might have ignored his wounds and continued training to vent his emotions.

Until his hands bled and his blood pooled on the floor.

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

“Because of Lucia?”

Eugene couldn’t hide his confusion at her sudden words. Alice was angry at Lucia?

Eugene tried to recall the usual image of the two. All he could think of was Alice acting like a spoiled child and clinging to Lucia’s embrace. A cheerful Alice, not an angry one. It was impossible to imagine.

“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.”

But Eugene couldn’t respond easily to Lucia’s words.

He vaguely looked at her profile, which was smiling bitterly as if mocking herself.

Alice’s anger wasn’t directed at Lucia.

Eugene was certain that her anger was aimed at herself, as there was no other way to express it.

“…It’s not your fault.”

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

That’s not true. On the contrary, I’m always indebted to you.

If you hadn’t been there during the field training, I would have been killed by the high rank monster’s ambush.

If you hadn’t helped me today, I wouldn’t have been able to defeat the Black Knight, and I wouldn’t have escaped with just these injuries.

“Eugene.”

It was Lucia’s gentle voice that brought Eugene back from his tangled thoughts.

Without any hesitation, she placed her hand on his shoulder and called his name.

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

This was a natural consequence of pushing his body beyond its limits. It was a familiar symptom for Eugene.

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

Eugene tried not to look at Lucia’s pale hand resting on his shoulder.

Her hand was white, slender, and flawless, like a piece of porcelain.

There’s no other hand more fitting for the phrase ‘delicate jade hands’.

The sensation of her hand lingered in his palm. Eugene swallowed a sigh.

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

Lucia cleared her throat and confidently patted her chest.

Eugene was confused. Massage? What kind of massage?

No, of course, he knew what it was. Calm down.

Massage? Suddenly? Why? It’s simple.

It’s a gesture of consideration to relieve his muscle pain.

Stimulating his neck, shoulders, back, arms, legs, and other parts to loosen his tense muscles. That’s what Lucia meant by a massage.

“…Thank you, but it’s okay.”

“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…”

If you touch me, I’ll definitely show an embarrassing reaction.

Lucia, what do you think I am? I’m also a man.

Men aren’t as gentlemanly as women imagine.

I’m grateful that you come to me without hesitation, but please be a little more reserved.

Don’t you know how attractive you are?

…But he couldn’t say that, so Eugene came up with a plausible excuse.

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

“Ah…”

Though it was an excuse, it wasn’t entirely wrong.

Eugene was injured. A wounded person with broken bones and torn muscles.

Naturally, he should avoid any action that involves physical stimulation, like a massage.

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

Yes, I’m happy.

Happier than I can express.

Her consideration and worry filled my heart with warmth.

Just her worried gaze and voice made me feel like all my hardships had been rewarded.

“I wanted to help…”

However, despite Eugene’s feelings, Lucia looked sullen.

Even though she had already done so much, did she still feel it wasn’t enough?

Eugene opened his mouth to say he was fine again.

No, he tried to.

If he hadn’t avoided eye contact with Lucia.

Her beautiful pink eyes, like fluttering cherry blossoms.

Her transparent and pure gaze left Eugene speechless for a moment.

‘Are you really okay? Don’t you have something you want?’

Her eyes seemed to say that.

“Well, you know…”

It was an impulsive desire.

The sight of Lucia looking downcast made his rational mask slip, revealing his true feelings.

To be honest, there is something.

There was something he wanted to ask her.

He was too embarrassed to say it outright.

Eugene wanted to ask Lucia for something.

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

His lips were dry. Eugene agonized over whether this was okay.

But since he had already brought it up, he couldn’t stop now. He continued, almost like an excuse,

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

I want to hold your hand again.

…But I can’t say that, can I?

How could I say something so embarrassing?

No, isn’t that a bit perverted? Asking to touch a woman’s hand out of the blue. Are you sane?

Eugene only realized the implications of his words after saying them, and his spine tingled. For a moment, his head went numb from the rush of blood.

How would Lucia interpret his request? He had phrased it as asking for acupressure, but…

“Oh you meant acupressure? I can definitely do that…”

While Eugene was nervously wondering if his true intentions had been exposed, Lucia leaned closer to him. Her golden hair fluttered in front of his eyes.

“Do you feel nauseous? Are you okay? Does it hurt a lot?”

Her voice was filled with concern.

I’m not in pain at all. My wounds sting a little, but I don’t feel nauseous or have any stomach pain. 

Eugene realized again how short-sighted his thoughts had been. When Lucia pressed on his hand before, it was when he was feeling unwell. She had massaged his hand to soothe his upset stomach. If I ask her to do that now, she’ll obviously think I’m feeling unwell.

“Ah, no… um, actually, it’s a little…”

Even knowing this, I lied anyway. I felt pathetic.

What’s the big deal about holding hands?

…To be honest, it felt nice, though.

 

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
It’s Eugene’s reward time!

I’m sorry, but the next chapter will probably be delayed due to personal reasons.

I wanted to write about Eugene suffering too…

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
I’m calling it now, Lucia marries Astaroth. 

The end! Heh.