Ch.288288. Shipwrecked (2)

    “A slip and fall accident?!”

    Elia jumped up from her seat in shock.

    She had been waiting for Darwood at dinner for quite some time, and when he still hadn’t shown up, this thunderbolt of news suddenly struck while she was waiting tediously.

    “What about the teacher! Has his location been found…!”

    “Ah, miss. You needn’t worry too much.”

    Facing Elia who was nearly losing her composure, Russ tried to calm her with a flustered voice.

    “Currently, all personnel in the territory are searching the surrounding area. He’ll be found by the end of today at the latest.”

    “But still…!”

    “Do you still not know Darwood?”

    A relaxed voice dropped beside the agitated Elia.

    “Nothing serious will happen. Is he the type to die from something like this?”

    “…”

    Well, that was true.

    But Elia narrowed her eyes and looked Elnore up and down.

    She was pretending to be composed while pouring tea into a cup. The reason Elia could assert it was “pretending” was because…

    “…Student Council President.”

    “What is it?”

    “Your hand is shaking so much that something’s spilling from the cup.”

    “…It must be your imagination.”

    “…”

    “I said it’s your imagination.”

    No.

    The tablecloth is getting completely soaked.

    Besides, if you’re going to be that flustered, why bother with the pretense of drinking tea?

    “…No, I know. The teacher isn’t someone who would be in trouble from something like this.”

    Elia sighed as she said this.

    From the beginning, both she and Elnore would have that level of confidence about the current situation. Given the list of enemies this man had defeated so far, it would be devastating to suggest he could die from falling from a height.

    However.

    “Still, I can’t help but worry.”

    The unspoken part was probably the sentence “because he’s someone I care about.”

    She was implying that both you and I are the same in this regard.

    “…”

    Elnore narrowed her eyes as she caught the meaning between the lines.

    She clearly wasn’t pleased about hearing such things said directly to her face.

    But fortunately, there was someone at the table who specialized in reading this kind of atmosphere.

    Russ, quickly recognizing the subtle tension, hastily added:

    “And, there’s something else I need to tell the Young Lady.”

    “…? Me?”

    “Yes.”

    After clearing his throat, Russ informed her in the most calm tone possible that Beatrix’s whereabouts were also unknown.

    Adding that she was last seen disappearing with Darwood, saying they had something to discuss alone.

    “…”

    Elnore’s expression instantly became serious.

    Elia’s expression also turned serious as she lowered her head and rubbed her chin.

    Yes, clearly this person also can’t pretend to be composed when someone close to her is involved.

    “We need to find those two right now.”

    “…Don’t worry too much. Like the president said, the teacher isn’t someone who would be easily defeated, and I’ve heard that Senior Beatrix is also extremely intelligent—”

    “Who said I was worried about that?”

    “…”

    No?

    Maybe not.

    “I don’t have the slightest concern about their safety. With those two together, survival shouldn’t be difficult in any environment.”

    “Then what are you worried about…?”

    Elnore turned to look at Elia with an incredulous expression.

    “Do you still not know Darwood?”

    The same sentence she had uttered earlier.

    However, the nuance was somewhat different.

    It contained exasperation, as if asking how she could still be asking such a question at this point.

    “…?”

    Elia wore a puzzled expression.

    Knowing or not knowing aside, Beatrix and Darwood were just together. There was no reason to be this urgent about—

    “…”

    Elia’s expression froze as she processed the sentence.

    She must have realized that something was strange about the situation itself.

    Just the two of them?

    With a woman?

    Darwood?

    “…Tell your friend to take a number! How many competitors are there already—!”

    “Don’t ask me, beg Darwood to stop being such a womanizer!”

    The screams of two women who had committed the sin of falling for the worst playboy in history crossed instantly.

    I vigorously rub together two pieces of wood that have been completely dried by extracting all the moisture inside using Beatrix’s magic.

    It’s the most primitive fire-making method I once saw in a documentary. Not exactly the most appropriate method when there’s a senior student from the Magic Department like Beatrix present, but it’s all we have right now.

    That’s because.

    “…Thank you.”

    This person’s condition is far from normal. I’ll have to work a bit harder.

    As Beatrix warmed herself by the campfire I somehow managed to start, she spoke in a small voice.

    ‘…At least no one got hurt, which is good.’

    Falling from a high place is just a warm-up exercise for someone in EX Dire Straits mode.

    I’m completely fine without a single injury.

    But Beatrix’s condition is concerning.

    To the point where I feel something serious might happen if I leave her like this.

    “Please hang on a little longer. People will come to help us soon.”

    “…Okay.”

    Again, the answer came in a small voice.

    It’s an unusually docile attitude considering how strict and demanding she usually is with me, but I don’t feel like commenting on that.

    < System Message >

    [ A threat that may cause physical abnormalities is detected. ]

    [ Applying skill ‘Dire Straits’ at B-rank. ]

    If you’re wondering how cold it is, it’s cold enough for this window to appear before my eyes. It means we could freeze to death if we stay like this.

    For someone with a weak constitution like her, every minute here must be hell.

    I sigh and look up at the border castle visible on the hill high above.

    It’s impossible to climb up there with Beatrix in this state. It’s getting quite dark as time passes, and I feel like something bad will happen if I push her even a little.

    The fortunate thing is that people from the castle are probably already searching for us. We won’t need to drift in a place like this for long.

    “Senior.”

    “…Mm.”

    “Senior. Stay conscious.”

    “…”

    The problem is.

    Despite having made a fire, her condition continues to deteriorate.

    Her eyes are losing focus. She’s clearly having trouble keeping her body upright. She’s gradually becoming unable to respond to what I’m saying.

    Some kind of emergency treatment is absolutely necessary.

    “…”

    But as far as I know, the emergency treatment I can provide for someone suffering from hypothermia is, well.

    The type that.

    “…Senior?!”

    While I’m contemplating this, I cry out in alarm as Beatrix collapses completely into the snow.

    No.

    Ah.

    Really.

    “…”

    I have no choice.

    Her mind was hazy.

    That was the only thought Beatrix could form as she felt her body swaying unsteadily.

    ‘…I should thank him more properly.’

    Even through her foggy consciousness, she vividly remembered how this guy had thrown his body to cushion her fall from that height, trying to prevent her from getting hurt.

    Even in this cold that made it difficult to control her body, the thought of properly thanking this man named Darwood was clear in her mind.

    ‘…Yes, huh?’

    Through her blurry vision, she suddenly caught sight of an image.

    While everything else was foggy, this appeared clearly, making her paradoxically certain that it couldn’t be real information.

    “…”

    And it wasn’t far from her expectations.

    Beatrix let out a hollow laugh at the absurdity of seeing her deceased grandfather beckoning to her from across a river.

    No. What kind of intention is this, grandfather, calling your granddaughter from a place like this?

    “-?”

    And then, the next moment.

    The image of her beckoning grandfather suddenly blurred. Instead, her vision, which had been cloudy as if something was in her eyes, began to return slightly.

    “-“

    It’s warm.

    Before she could even grasp what was happening, that was the first sensation that came to her.

    The warmth created by skin touching skin.

    The feeling of the chill that had been creeping up from the bottom of her body, which wouldn’t go away no matter how warmly she dressed, was now receding.

    Beatrix looked around with her slightly recovered consciousness.

    “Darwood…?”

    The campfire crackled, its light illuminating the dim surroundings.

    But Darwood was nowhere to be seen.

    “…”

    Suddenly, fear surged within her.

    The anxiety of being left alone in this place overwhelmed her.

    “Where are you…?”

    She asked with a slightly trembling voice. She was scared. She felt like she might cry.

    Fortunately, the answer came quickly.

    “I’m right here.”

    From behind her.

    “…”

    Hmm.

    Why is the answer coming from this direction?

    Blinking blankly, she finally examined her own condition.

    Darwood, who had completely removed his upper clothing, was holding her tightly while they were both wrapped in a large coat.

    She too was wearing nothing except her underwear, with her skin pressed against this man’s.

    So this is why it’s warm, she thought, and simultaneously.

    ‘…Huh.’

    Beatrix’s mind filled with question marks.

    “…”

    Wait?

    What kind of situation is this?


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