episode_0035

After the failed assassination attempt on Princess Rosaria by the maids, the tournament was temporarily suspended.

The maids interrogated several suspects to uncover the motives behind the crime.

The rest were promptly executed on the spot, while the bewildered students sought refuge in the academy.

The royal side also suffered a setback.

No one had expected the princess to be targeted for assassination in front of everyone.

It was a situation that dealt a significant blow to the empire’s prestige.

However, amidst all this, Cyan’s reputation soared.

Many spectators witnessed Cyan’s courageous act of rushing to save Rosaria despite the danger posed by the opponent wielding a real sword.

Moreover, what he wielded on his waist. It was undoubtedly an aurora.

The fact that a first-year academy student wielded an aurora was unprecedented.

Surprised spectators began to spread rumors that if the tournament had continued, he would have been the victor.

However, Princess Rosaria paid no heed to such rumors.

Taking care of Cyan, who lay in the infirmary bed, struggling to breathe, was more important.

“You saved me twice…”

“….”

Cyan remained silent at Rosaria’s words.

Cold sweat dripped from every inch of his body.

“I’ll go in!”

At that moment, a voice came from beyond the infirmary door, and it swung open with a creak.

The person entering through the door was Hedy.

Hedy was taken aback when she saw Rosaria already inside the sickroom.

“Princess? Why are you here…?”

“Who might you be?”

Hedy couldn’t help but be flustered.

It was unimaginable that Princess Rosaria, everyone’s idol and the princess of the empire, was nursing Cyan. Her red hair was silky and smooth.

Whether well-maintained or naturally so, it felt much more innocent and beautiful than Hedy’s own managed hair.

After a brief moment of confusion, she had to respond to the princess’s question.

“Hedy Marigold of the Marigold family greets Your Highness! I am a friend of Cyan!”

“…You have a lovely friend. Cyan.”

Rosaria turned her head towards Cyan again.

Hedy approached Cyan, who was lying in bed.

“Cyan…!”

Seeing the still unconscious Cyan, Hedy’s expression turned serious.

This was already the second time he had collapsed in front of her.

How reckless could this man be?

When Princess Rosaria was in danger, participants with swords merely went through the motions of protecting her, but only Cyan rushed in like a madman to rescue Princess Rosaria.

How many people like him existed? Hedy pondered.

“…Cyan has saved me twice already.”

Rosaria held Cyan’s hand as he lay there.

In that moment, Hedy flinched.

“If it weren’t for Cyan, I would have been in danger again this time… He is now a benefactor in my life.”

“Twice…?”

“Yes. When the Ogres attacked the carriage, he saved me.”

“….”

Upon hearing this, Hedy stiffened.

He saved the princess? And not just once, but twice?

What had he been up to in environments unknown to her?

Watching Rosaria gaze at Cyan with an uneasy expression, Hedy’s pupils shook, and she started to feel anxious.

Hedy bit her lip nervously.

“What is your relationship with Cyan?”

“…We are friends.”

“I see.”

An awkward atmosphere settled over them.

-Knock, knock.

“May I come in?!”

Who could it be now?

Once again, it was a female voice.

“Come in.”

As Rosaria responded, the door swung open.

“Oh…!”

A blonde woman entered, her hair flowing, and gasped when she saw Cyan struggling on the bed.

“Cyan, what happened…!”

“Who might you be?”

“! I greet the Princess. I am Lucy Amelia of the Amelia family! I am an acquaintance of Cyan.”

“I see…”

Rosaria looked around her.

By chance, the narrow hospital room was filled with women.

One man surrounded by three women.

Rosaria muttered quietly to herself.

“All women….”

“What?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. So, what brings you here?”

As if nothing had happened, Rosaria asked Lucy.

“Well… I heard about the trouble with a friend and came to visit…”

While the two were talking,

Emil’s voice from outside the door announced that he had brought a priest.

Rosaria hastily opened the door, revealing a white-haired elderly man in his mid-sixties, accompanied by Emil.

The old priest examined Cyan’s pulse.

“I think I need to try something.”

Everyone held their breath at the priest’s words as he proceeded to use a purification spell on Cyan.

A purification spell using divine power instead of magic.

He was one of the few individuals permitted to wield divine power granted by the goddess Hea.

A figure not easily seen if not for Princess Rosaria’s name.

Radiating an aura akin to an ancient tree, he eventually reached out towards Cyan’s body.

A brilliant light emanated from his hand’s center.

– Aah!

Minutes passed.

The sweating priest eventually extinguished the brilliant light.

“What happened?!”

Rosaria asked the priest.

The priest weakly shook his head.

“This is not something I can solve with my own power….”

And then it happened.

“Phew! Thought I was a goner.”

“Aaaargh!”

“……!”

Cyan suddenly cried out, startling the priest who stumbled backward, clutching his backside in pain.

“My, my back…!”

Everyone looked at Cyan in disbelief, unable to comprehend the situation.

*

I really thought I was going to die.

Magic surged backward, making me feel dizzy.

Dark magic.

That forbidden force mixed into my magic, tormenting my senses.

Not only that, it heightened the demonic pressure in every corner of my body, leaving me to believe I was done for.

It was a good thing I had insurance.

Until I brought out the magic scroll, I had the magic stone with me.

I didn’t give it to Lucy.

After all, without the magic scroll, the unprocessed magic stone was useless. Why would I give it to her?

So, I kept it.

The decision was right. It was a close call.

…As I was being consumed by dark magic, I focused on channeling energy into purification activities and touched the magic stone in my pocket.

After losing consciousness, I eventually withdrew my hand, but the magic stone still worked, despite the barrier of clothing.

It was a dreadful experience, reminiscent of when I suffered from acute appendicitis during middle school.

In a state of unconsciousness, my stomach churned, magic fluctuated, and the dark forces screamed.

But the magic stone slowly stabilized magical activity in my bloodstream, excluding the dark magic.

That’s how I regained consciousness.

“Cyan… Are you okay?”

Hedy’s voice was the first thing I heard upon regaining consciousness.

I opened my eyes to find myself in a hospital room.

She must have been taking care of me after all.

I felt grateful once again. I turned my head towards the direction of the sound.

And then, at that moment.

‘…?’

The hospital room felt crowded.

Many people were looking at me.

‘Why is it so busy in here?’

I expected to see only my friend Hedy.

However, there was also Lucy from the Alchemy Department, and a figure who seemed to be a priest.

Princess Rosaria. And even her knight, Emil….

The hospital room buzzed like a packed bus.

.

.

.

“I seem to be fine.”

I said to Hedy as I moved around.

“Well, that’s a relief… What exactly happened?”

“The magic stone. It was similar to the underground labyrinth incident last time.”

“Ah.”

As I casually replied, Hedy immediately understood my words.

“This time, I really thought I was a goner. It was fortunate I had the magic stone. Dealing with a group that dabbles in dark magic… Why did they attack the academy?”

While listening to me, Lucy briefly cleared her throat in understanding.

With all eyes now on Lucy, she spoke, “I may not fully understand the situation yet, but it’s a relief to see Sian looking okay. I’ll take my leave for now.”

The elderly man who seemed like a priest hurriedly followed Lucy outside, exclaiming, “My back…! My back…! Oh my!”

Did he injure his back? How did that happen?

In an instant, only Rosaria, Emil, Sian, and Hedie remained.

Hedie then turned towards me, raising her hand in a gesture of warning. “Don’t act recklessly in the future. If you get seriously hurt, what will you do by throwing yourself around like that every time?”

“It was sudden… It was irresistible.”

“Don’t talk back to me!”

…

In the midst of this, Rosaria spoke from behind, “Are you two really just friends?”

Hedie flinched at her words, and we immediately understood the intent behind Rosaria’s question.

Just as I was about to dispel any misunderstandings with an answer…

“Yes. We’re just friends,” Hedie firmly replied to her.

Her response was so firm that it felt peculiar.

“I see…”

Rosaria slowly approached me.

Perhaps as a token of gratitude for saving her from the Dark Mage, she wanted to nurse me back to health.

She was about to say something.

Whatever she intended to convey, if I got too deeply involved with heroines like before, I might end up entangled with strange factions again.

Although we had vowed to enjoy a peaceful academy life and graduate before anything else…

If things continued like this, even ten bodies wouldn’t be enough.

No matter what she said now, I should respond appropriately.

As Rosaria spoke to me, I positioned myself accordingly.

“Please let me be your guardian knight, Sian.”

However, at her unexpected words, my response was momentarily halted.