Ch.44Chapter 44. If Left Alone, Lin Will Die

I’m not sure which morning it is since arriving at the Zramun Archipelago.

Lucy has spent each day nursing Lin in the private quarters provided by the Protek family.

She gazes at him endlessly, brushes back his fallen bangs, listens to his heartbeat, and when sleepy, burrows into his embrace to rest.

No one except Lucy entered these quarters.

Though somewhat excessive, no one protested against the archipelago’s benefactor.

Rather, since it was known that the entire hero’s party except the hero himself had suffered serious injuries in a fierce battle, some residents left gifts wishing for recovery, but there was absolutely no resentment.

Yet to Lucy, it all seemed futile.

When she closed her eyes, she still vividly relived that urgent moment.

“Why won’t the bleeding stop!”

Despite continuously infusing holy power, Lin’s bleeding wouldn’t cease.

Whenever someone tried to remove his mask for a closer examination, Lucy would frantically prevent it.

After the Valtercrua incident, Lucy had learned that Arsil and Lin knew each other originally, and she absolutely refused to let that happen.

Despite using all his strength, when Lin’s condition didn’t improve, Arsil cried out in despair.

An innocent person was dying because of his mistake.

Even if it was the porter he hadn’t particularly liked, the guilt was tremendous.

“Medic!”

Rainfold shouted until his throat was raw, calling for a healer to prevent a death in the hero’s party.

“Lucy, please! We can’t properly assess his condition without removing the mask!”

“I’ll tear out your neck, not just your legs, if you try, Naidrian!”

Lucy and Naidrian argued as accurate diagnosis became impossible.

As the situation deteriorated into chaos without improvement, the mage stepped forward.

“Move aside. Blood loss is critical. Need transfusion first.”

Tigria had researched all party members’ blood types since the Demon Lord subjugation journey and kept supplies for emergency treatment.

That preparation now proved valuable.

After administering a blood transfusion on one side and an IV on the other, Tigria used magic to diagnose Lin’s abdomen.

“X-ray, penetration, detection, shock!”

After instantly cauterizing the bleeding internal area with momentarily amplified high voltage, Tigria wiped away sweat and stepped back.

“The bleeding has stopped…”

Finally realizing Lin was safe, Lucy shed tears of relief.

“Why was my holy power of no use…”

Arsil muttered blankly, devastated that he couldn’t help until the end.

Regret washed over him for his inability to properly resolve a situation caused by his own mistake.

“It’s because of the demonic energy infecting the porter’s arm.”

Tigria explained while putting emergency supplies back into her inventory.

“It’s an opposing force, and above all, since the demonic energy is the greatest threat to his life, your holy power was used solely to counter that.”

“Then it should have at least purified something, but there was no sign of that at all.”

“It’s the Demon Lord’s demonic energy. And about two months have passed since then. It won’t be easily purified.”

And all of this was hypothetical.

With those final words, the mage collapsed.

Having had her neck torn by Denaruah and suffering various mental attacks, Tigria was extremely exhausted.

Everyone was exhausted.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to provide proper accommodations for our benefactors.”

“I’ll pass if it means being with those people. Besides, you even swung a sword at my comrade. Not interested.”

At Lucy’s rebuke, Gendry bowed his head.

Gayanal, now free from hypnosis, defended him.

“Please calm your anger, benefactor. If you wish, we can prepare individual rooms for everyone. After you’ve recovered, we will formally apologize.”

Rainfold’s eyes gleamed with interest.

He had heard she was a noblewoman from a powerful family in the archipelago who had been hypnotized into serving as a maid, and her old-fashioned speech pleased him.

If nothing else, he wished Rinasien would perfectly master such refined noble conversation.

“The one who deserves thanks is not me, but the hero.”

“Truly, are you Hero Lucy Estel? We were heartbroken to hear you perished with the Demon Lord, but how fortunate that you’re safe…”

“Hey, do you express gratitude with just words?”

The 4th Hero, Lucy Estel.

Worth emphasizing again, one reason for Arrogant Saga’s popularity poll victory was her unrestrained speech.

“I said I don’t need it. I just need a place for my comrade to rest. I’m leaving.”

“B-benefactor!”

As Lucy tried to walk away, the mage persuaded her.

“The porter needs a comfortable place to rest. He has multiple rib fractures on the left side and internal injuries. Breathing will be difficult.”

“So?”

“We’ll find lodging elsewhere.”

“…”

“Based on the demon hero party’s words, the porter is a most crucial person.”

Most crucial person.

Those words left a bitter taste for Rainfold.

With Lucy stealing the spotlight by defeating demons with her brilliant holy sword display, and all circumstances pointing to the porter’s importance, Rainfold and imperial authority couldn’t gain attention.

“Bring out the best room. Let no one enter. Only I will stay by his side.”

“Yes, Hero!”

But he could endure it.

Hadn’t he endured the nauseating position as Lucy’s fiancé for over two years?

The one who triumphs in the end will claim all glory.

With that in mind, current patience was a virtue for success.

Watching Lucy and the Protek family members walk away, Rainfold instructed Tigria:

“Send word to the imperial palace. Tell them we’ve found the hero.”

—

Lin remained unconscious.

But the physician brought by the Protek family said it was largely due to accumulated fatigue and extreme stress.

Lucy took full responsibility for nursing the unresponsive Lin.

She moved his body and wiped his naked form with a wet cloth.

“It’s the complete opposite of before.”

Back then, Lin had bathed her.

Perhaps that time when she had no limbs was the happiest.

That time when there were only the two of them, when she could whine and lean on him freely.

That time when he looked only at her.

Knock knock

“It’s Tigria.”

“Go away.”

“Understood.”

Almost daily, the hero’s party came to visit.

They were shameless, claiming it was time to join forces again.

“Lucy, I know our very existence is unacceptable to you. But the current situation…”

“One more word and I’ll go burn down the entire elven forest.”

“…”

Naidrian didn’t visit again after that.

“Um, I just wanted to say I’m sorry.”

“When will you give me your right arm?”

“…”

Arsil also stopped visiting.

“Lucy, it’s been a while, let’s talk just the two of us… Gack!”

“Who! Called me Lucy!!!”

Rainfold, aware he might die if they met, couldn’t send the mage and came himself, only to be grabbed by the collar when Lucy burst through the door, and was beaten until he was bloody.

“What were you thinking, calling Lucy by a nickname?”

“…You call her that too.”

He was barely rescued before his head could be smashed open, as everyone pulled them apart.

When Arsil asked what he was thinking while applying holy power, Rainfold wished he could die.

When all else fails, people sometimes do crazy things.

But it wasn’t entirely fruitless.

At least the fact that Lucy controlled her strength when beating Rainfold meant she didn’t intend to kill the hero’s party.

In other words, she acknowledged the necessity of the party but couldn’t accept it emotionally.

From the next day, Rainfold sent Tigria.

Knock knock

“It’s Tigria.”

“Go away.”

“Understood.”

She came once a day, at a set time.

Perhaps because she had saved Lin, Lucy only told her to go away without causing other harm.

After a week passed this way, the abyss sword spoke to Lucy.

[What are you going to do? Just waste time like this?]

“Shut up.”

[You must have realized it clearly this time? No matter how strong you are, when multiple people target Lin, it’s very dangerous.]

“I’ll just get stronger.”

[Get stronger? Haha! You saw the illusionist? Did he seem stronger than you? Yet you were played by him.]

“I’ll become overwhelmingly stronger.”

[The Demon Lord was overwhelmingly strong too. But what happened?]

She couldn’t refute that.

Speechless, Lucy stroked Lin’s bare face.

The Abyss had already surrounded the room with dark energy so no one could peek in.

Lucy knew it too.

Alone, she was powerless.

Even staying by Lin’s side, somehow they break through Lucy’s defenses and harm him.

The only ones she could cooperate with now were the hero’s party.

Her enemies.

Her pounding heart urged her to kill them all, especially to tear Rainfold apart vertically.

Her heated head chimed in.

Yes, sweep them all away as an example and go to Valtercrua. Protect Lin there with Ravin.

Being with the thief might make her look inadequate, but no one would protect Lin as reliably as Ravin.

Even if it hurt her pride, it was far better than Lin getting hurt.

The decision was made.

Extermination.

But when she gripped the demon sword, the Abyss spoke to her with uncharacteristic seriousness.

[Let’s talk about something important for a moment.]

“I’ve already decided.”

[No, you’ll need to decide again after hearing this. It’s about Lin’s life.]

“Tell me now.”

Tense about content that might cause her to go berserk, the Abyss continued.

[The Demon Lord will definitely return. When that happens, the demonic energy within Lin will also surge. A normal human body can’t withstand it. He’ll either die or become a demon.]

“Go on.”

[The only solution is to delay the demonic energy’s invasion with the holy maiden’s power and completely defeat the Demon Lord in that time.]

Lucy didn’t respond for a while.

Only when the Abyss was writhing with impatience did she finally murmur softly.

“It’s unfair.”

[What is?]

“Why must Lin… suffer like this? Throughout the Demon Lord subjugation, he struggled because of me, and even after saving me, he only sacrifices himself!”

She wanted to swing her fist but doing so might half-destroy the mansion.

All she could do was clench it until it bled.

“It’s too much! What is the goddess doing! I don’t care about my limbs being cut off! I know I’m an inadequate woman! But what about Lin? What did Lin do wrong? At least Lin should be saved!”

The pain of seeing her beloved continue to suffer was harder to bear than having her own limbs torn off.

Lucy shouted at the empty air, at the sky.

“My life? I can give it anytime if that’s what you want! It’s Lin’s from the beginning anyway. So please, save Lin!”

[The 2nd Hnoni has already entered Lin’s body and is mostly blocking the demonic energy invasion. Isn’t that asking too much?]

“The 2nd… During the 2nd hero’s time, the goddess directly intervened and swept away the world, and said she wouldn’t stay silent next time! Was that all a lie?”

[Lucy Estel.]

The Abyss’s voice deepened.

An irresistible force compelled her to listen to the demon sword.

[The goddess has already moved. She’s done something tremendous. Even that demon god would be shocked.]

“Moved? What did she do? Attach a barely functioning respirator to Lin with a holy sword?”

[You fool. Without the goddess, the world would have belonged to demons long ago.]

Do you know?

That there was only one possible outcome where you could defeat the Demon Lord and safely arrive here?

When you know everything, will you still remain the arrogant Lucy Estel you were before?

More than the demon hero, you can never go back.

Your only ally.

Your best comrade.

[Your Lin will leave your side forever if you don’t form a party to confront and defeat the Demon Lord.]

“…”

That final statement made Lucy decide.

Time passes.

Night comes again, and another morning dawns in the Zramun Archipelago, who knows which one.

Knock knock

“It’s Tigria.”

“What’s your business?”

Surprised by the different response, Tigria stood dumbfounded before quickly adding:

“We need to join forces.”

“Why?”

“With the demon hero appearing in the world, an era of war will come again.”

“Why?”

She asks again, seemingly unsatisfied.

After contemplating, Tigria decided to be as honest as possible.

“If not us, the world will perish. I… don’t want to perish.”

Was the mage ever someone who could speak like this?

Though she thought she had shared many conversations with her companions during the Demon Lord subjugation journey, there were still many unknown aspects.

Well, she wouldn’t have had her limbs cut off if she had known their true intentions until the end.

“Bring the entire hero’s party to this door.”

“…Understood!”

Having finally broken the ice for negotiation, the mage quickly ran to their lodgings.

The joy in those receding footsteps was irritating.

To calm her soured mood, she lay down beside Lin.

His still-closed eyes were so frustrating.

As she rested her head on his chest to listen to his heartbeat, a rough hand wrapped around her shoulder.

“Ah…”

It was Lin.

“You made a difficult decision.”

“For you.”

“Why? Because I asked you to save the world?”

“Yes, because Lin wanted it.”

“I see.”

He pulled her shoulder more warmly and gently.

“I’m sorry, Lucy. For forcing you to do something you dislike.”

“No, not at all. What my only ally, my best comrade, my Lin wants, I want too.”

His voice is sweet.

Tears well up at hearing his voice after a week.

“Will you hold me tighter?”

“Yes.”

“More, more firmly.”

“Like this?”

“Yes, I like it.”

Lucy completely buried herself in his embrace.

Lin whispered to her:

“Are you ready to go save the world?”

“Of course.”

Because saving the world means saving Lin.

I’ll fix everything so you won’t suffer anymore because of my stupid actions.

When that time comes, can I show you these embarrassing feelings of mine?

Even if contempt and rejection await at the end.

I…

Lin…

You…

Bang bang!

“Lucy! It’s Rainfold. May I come in…?”

“Everyone except you can enter!”

Oh right.

The shield knight must die.

That comes first.

Lucy’s eyes momentarily turned red.