Chap 60-Victory

 

“Haa…”

After parting with Lina, I let out a deep sigh and spoke to the dark, seemingly empty street.

“Senior. You can come out now.”

No sooner had I finished speaking than the bushes rustled and stirred, and after a moment, Bella Senior appeared, looking utterly flustered.

She had a few leaves stuck in her hair, and her clothes were covered in dirt and dust.

It seemed she had been hiding and eavesdropping on Lina and me the whole time we were talking.

I narrowed my eyes and looked at Bella Senior.

She looked quite a sight, caught red-handed and not knowing what to do.

“…You heard everything, didn’t you?”

When I asked teasingly, Bella Senior awkwardly avoided my gaze and cleared her throat.

“W-What are you talking about! I was just… taking a walk! I just happened to run into you!”

She tried to make excuses, but her trembling voice was not at all convincing.

The sight was quite amusing.

I chuckled.

The heavy worries that had filled my head until just now felt lighter, if only for a moment.

…

I had been debating whether it would be okay to tell Lina the truth about Yeon, but I couldn’t come to a conclusion on my own.

In the end, I was about to head to Yeon’s dormitory to discuss it with her directly.

I saw Lina and Yeon walking together towards the dormitory.

Lina was talking animatedly about something, and Yeon was only occasionally nodding or giving short answers.

‘…What are they talking about?’

For some reason, Bella began to follow them without realizing it.

Maintaining a certain distance, being careful not to get caught.

She didn’t even know why she was doing this.

She was just strangely bothered by the sight of the two of them together, and curious about the conversation they were having.

How long had she been walking?

When they reached the fork in the road leading to the dormitory, Lina suddenly stopped and turned to look at Yeon.

Bella also hid in the bushes, holding her breath and watching them.

And Bella saw it.

The moment Lina confessed her true feelings to Yeon.

“…I like you, Yeon.”

A trembling voice, but unwavering eyes.

A heartfelt confession, as if staking everything as a Saintess Candidate.

And the promise that followed.

“But… I won’t give up. Never. I will definitely make you atone for your mistakes and lead you to the light.”

Bella could only hide behind a tree and watch the breathtaking scene.

…

“…You heard everything, didn’t you?”

At Yeon’s teasing question, Bella couldn’t hide her embarrassment.

She never dreamed that she would be caught so easily, and by Yeon herself.

Come to think of it, even though her level was low, Yeon was much stronger than her.

Perhaps she had noticed Bella following her from the very beginning.

“W-What are you talking about! I was just… taking a walk! I just happened to run into you!”

Bella tried to make excuses, but her voice was trembling.

“Hmm~ Looks like you took a pretty intense walk?”

Yeon teased, pretending to brush the leaves off Bella’s hair and clothes.

“You’ve got dirt and dust all over you.”

Despite Yeon’s playful tone, Bella could read the lingering confusion on her face.

Lina’s sudden confession must have been a big shock to her as well.

Those wavering eyes, that subtly stiffened mouth.

And that confusion felt like fear to Bella.

‘What if… what if Yeon accepts Lina’s confession?’

Bella was overwhelmed with unbearable anxiety, afraid that Yeon might decide to be with Lina.

Lina was a Saintess Candidate.

Bright, kind, with a strong power, and even a past connection with Yeon.

In every way, she was a much better fit for Yeon than someone like her.

If she wanted Yeon to be happy, she knew rationally that being with Lina might be the better choice.

She knew that Lina deserved to be by Yeon’s side more than someone like her…

Nevertheless, she felt greedy.

A selfish and foolish greed.

The desire to be by her side, to protect her, and perhaps… to be her special someone.

She, too, cared for Yeon…

Bella was tormented by a whirlwind of complex emotions, her head bowed.

“…Senior, are you okay?”

Yeon’s worried voice reached her.

When Bella looked up, Yeon was looking at her with a puzzled expression.

The confusion from Lina’s confession was nowhere to be seen, and instead, she was looking at her with worried eyes.

Seeing that, Bella snapped out of it.

What was she thinking just now?

Jealousy? Possessiveness?

This was not the time to be swayed by such petty emotions.

Right now, discussing Lina with Yeon was far more important than her own feelings.

“Ah, no. It’s nothing.”

Bella said, trying to compose herself.

“I just… came to talk to you about something.”

“Talk about something?”

Yeon asked, her expression questioning.

Bella took a moment to gather her thoughts.

No matter how she felt about Yeon, Yeon needed as many reliable allies as possible right now.

And someone like Lina could be a great help to Yeon.

But…

Why didn’t Yeon think about telling Lina the truth?

It even seemed like she was deliberately trying to push her away.

That’s why she had to discuss it first.

Maybe there was a reason she didn’t know about.

“Yes. It’s about Lina.”

Bella said cautiously.

Yeon didn’t show any particular change in expression, but simply nodded slightly as if to say, “Tell me more.”

“So… about Lina…”

Bella tried to start, but strangely, the next words didn’t come easily.

‘About Lina… what was I going to say?’

“…That…”

Bella hesitated for a moment.

She was definitely going to tell Yeon something important about Lina, but suddenly her mind felt blank.

‘Uh… about Lina…?’

There was something important she wanted to say.

“So, Lina… I was definitely going to say something…”

Bella began to panic.

The thoughts that had been so clear in her mind just a moment ago suddenly scattered like fog.

“Lina…”

Bella tried to remember, but nothing came to mind.

Only the name ‘Lina’ and Yeon’s face lingered, but she couldn’t remember what she was going to say.

“…….”

“…….”

An awkward silence fell.

Yeon was still waiting for Bella’s next words with a blank face, and Bella was sweating and desperately trying to recall what she wanted to say.

‘Huh? Wait a minute. Why am I like this?’

She definitely had something to say just now, but it had disappeared as if someone had erased it from her mind.

Something… was wrong.

Bella looked at Yeon with a confused expression.

“…Senior, are you really okay?”

Yeon asked with a worried expression.

“Uh… um…”

Bella stammered in confusion.

‘I definitely had something to say…’

Her mind was still foggy, as if shrouded in mist.

“Hee-eeng~ Could this be… jealousy? Or something?”

Yeon narrowed her eyes and asked teasingly.

“You wanted to join in because Lina and I seemed too close, but you didn’t have anything to say?”

“Ah, no! It’s nothing like that at all…”

Bella exclaimed in surprise, waving her hands.

Jealousy? That was ridiculous.

Of course, she was a little, just a little, bothered by it.

“…Really.”

Bella said with a serious expression.

“I definitely had something to say to you, but suddenly I can’t remember anything.”

Seeing Bella’s serious expression, Yeon stopped teasing and became serious.

She took a step closer to Bella and asked worriedly.

“Are you really okay? Are you not feeling well? Have you been overdoing it lately?”

“No, it’s not that.”

Bella shook her head. Her physical condition was fine. But why suddenly…

At that moment, Bella’s head suddenly felt clear, as if the fog had lifted.

But she still couldn’t remember what she was going to say.

‘…Since I can’t remember, it must not have been that important.’

Bella tried to think that way, trying to calm her uneasy feelings.

And to reassure Yeon, she forced a smile and said.

“Well, judging from the fact that I suddenly can’t remember, it probably wasn’t that important. Don’t worry about it.”

Seeing Bella like that, Yeon seemed relieved, and then her face returned to its playful expression.

“Aww, what a letdown.”

She giggled and began to tease Bella.

“Senior, maybe… could it be that you already have dementia at your age? What should I do, should I get you some medicine?”

“Agh! You really!”

Finally unable to bear it, Bella lightly flicked Yeon’s head.

Yeon seemed to be in a little pain, but she kept laughing, as if she found it very amusing.

Bella chuckled at the sight of Yeon, but a lingering question remained in the corner of her mind.

‘It definitely… felt like a very important story…’

‘In the first place… what was I trying to talk about?’