episode_0077

Chapter 77 – The Aftermath

“Hahahaha! Amazing!”

As soon as our eyes met, Gion Cruise burst into a hearty laugh, pouring out effusive praise.

His entire body bore the marks of his battle with the undead legion. He had quite a few injuries, but none were fatal, and he still exuded an unyielding, iron-wall-like momentum that seemed impossible to break.

I calmly bowed my head.

“Thanks to you, we were able to successfully defend against the Dark Cult’s offensive. If it weren’t for you, we might have lost the Heart of Levios.”

“You flatter me.”

“No! I mean it. But may I ask you one thing?”

His expression was serious, as if it were an important matter. I had an unusual premonition.

“Yes, of course.”

“Thank you. Ahem! Are you… by any chance a possessor?”

My eyes widened in surprise for a moment.

I hadn’t expected him to mention a possessor so directly.

But I quickly understood. It was impossible for someone of Gion Cruise’s caliber not to have received information about possessors, and therefore, he would have perceived my appearance as highly anomalous.

While I was pondering what to do, Cain interjected from beside me.

“Possessor? What’s that?”

“Don’t you remember? Didn’t I tell you before? That there are invaders from another world and they must be ferreted out. You clearly didn’t listen to a word I said.”

“No way. Ruan Friuli. Is this true?”

Cain, who blithely ignored Gion’s dumbfounded gaze, turned his attention to me.

His eyes still looked like rotten pollack eyes.

He seemed completely unaffected by Gion’s explanation that I might be an invader from another world.

He didn’t inspire confidence, yet I trusted him.

“Sigh… It’s true.”

“So that’s it. Hmm… General-nim. Didn’t you clearly say back then that possessors would be harmful?”

“I did. But… perhaps the Order was mistaken. If he were truly harmful, he wouldn’t have helped us stop Hersculer. So you didn’t completely ignore what I said, did you?”

“Ruan, did you hear that? General-nim doesn’t seem to have any intention of reporting you to the Order.”

“You’re not listening to me. And I’m no longer a General. Call me Dean-nim.”

Unlike his stern and serious appearance, Gion had quite a humorous personality. I watched their skit, then bowed my head and asked.

“Dean-nim. Could you please keep my identity a secret?”

“Is it because of the Order?”

“Yes. If the fact that I’m a possessor becomes known, there will be problems.”

Though I couldn’t know the Order’s true intentions, it was hard to conjure up a positive image from the words ‘invaders’ and ‘ferreting them out.’

However, Gion, as a local, seemed to think differently.

“Is there any need for that? With your achievements, the Order would surely believe in your innocence. You might even receive support. Do you still wish to hide it?”

“…Yes. I’m sorry, but I cannot trust the Order.”

“Well, I understand. You don’t know the Order, after all. But I can’t grant your request.”

I snapped my bowed head up!

“What do you mean by that….”

When I asked, unsure of the reason, Gion grinned and patted my shoulder.

“My debt to you is great. I can’t simply gloss over it with something so trivial. Keeping your secret is a given. So make another request.”

“Dean-nim….”

“No need to be so moved. Hahahaha! It’s all calculated behavior.”

Gion Cruise was an excellent individual.

Without hesitation, I readily accepted his goodwill.

“Then, may I ask for one favor later?”

“Later? Is it difficult to say now?”

“Yes. Situations can change at any time, can’t they?”

“Hmm… That’s true. Then come to my dean’s office anytime. I’ll make arrangements.”

“Thank you.”

With this, I had secured one final insurance policy.

‘Am I safe for now?’

Having shed one worry, I slumped to the floor, overcome by fatigue.

I had expended too much mental and physical energy digesting the Phoenix egg and completing Taegeuk Hwasin Gong.

“Then Cain. I’m counting on you to handle the rest.”

“What?”

“I’m really exhausted. Please carry me without being noticed.”

With those words, I lost consciousness.

*

“Ruan! Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”

The day after the attack, Isis came to find me, who was pretending to be a patient in the recovery room.

Disregarding the Saintess’s gaze from behind, she rushed over and felt all over my body. After fondling my face, she rubbed my firm chest, then continued downwards, placing her hand on my sturdy lower half.

Seeing this, the Saintess’s pupils quivered, and she quickly warned Isis.

“Y-Young Lady Isis! Young Master Ruan needs to rest, so please don’t touch him recklessly!”

“Huh? …Oh, ah!”

Isis, who had been grasping the steadily hardening pillar, belatedly jumped back in surprise.

“Ru-Ruan. I’m sorry. I was rude.”

“…No, it’s fine. I’m unharmed, so please calm down.”

“Uh, un! It’s a relief you weren’t hurt.”

An awkward atmosphere lingered.

Not only Isis, but even the Saintess didn’t know what to do and rolled their eyes nervously.

At this point, there was no choice but for me to step in.

“More importantly, Noona. How did you get here? It should take some time for the news to reach the Friuli territory.”

Even if she had rushed here alone as fast as possible, it would still take a full day just to pass through the snow mountains, so I wondered how she arrived so quickly.

At my question, Isis pulled a letter from her bosom.

“Actually, the Princess-nim told me.”

“Huh? Her Highness?”

“Yes. This is a magic letter, two sheets form a pair. If you write on one, it instantly appears on the other. Thanks to that, I found out right away and rushed here.”

“Such a magical artifact exists.”

I don’t know what she was thinking, but it wasn’t bad since I got to receive Isis’s caress.

I nodded, then looked at the Saintess, who was clinging tightly to the door.

“But Saintess-nim, how long are you going to stay there?”

“Wh-why? Can’t I be here?”

“No, it’s because you keep peeking from there, and it’s making me uncomfortable. Either come in properly.”

If it were just the Saintess, I wouldn’t mind, but because of her peculiar behavior, even the gazes of other priests and patients were converging on us.

The Saintess looked crestfallen at my comment about being uncomfortable, but then brightened up upon hearing the latter part of my sentence.

“Really? Then excuse me!”

She entered with swift movements, as if afraid I’d change my mind. I shook my head from side to side.

‘By the way, this is surprising.’

Until I was transferred to the recovery room, I had planned to just get treated by a suitable priest and leave, but I didn’t expect the Saintess to step forward.

She must have left for the Order’s holy land for the break, but to return so quickly.

Of course, the Dark Cult’s attack probably played a large part in that action, but it was truly strange that what she did upon returning was to treat me.

There must be many critically ill patients, so I wondered if it was okay to assign the Saintess to a malingering patient.

Well, it’s not my problem to worry about.

As the Saintess approached, Isis rose from her seat and bowed her head.

“Saintess-nim. Thank you for treating Ruan.”

“Not at all! It’s simply what I ought to do. By the way, Ruan, shall I examine you again? Because your condition might have worsened.”

“Huh? Um… Alright.”

“Stay still.”

Although I wondered if there was any room for my condition to worsen when I had no injuries at all, I wasn’t a bad patient who would refuse a doctor’s words.

After I agreed, the Saintess held my face in both hands and pressed her forehead against mine.

My eyes passed over her beautiful features to her holy, ample bosom.

‘I’m being healed.’

As her arms came together, her naturally emphasized ample bosom created an appearance as if it would tear through her loose nun’s habit at any moment.

I felt the urge to bury my face and suck on her breasts.

I glanced at Isis, who was subtly fidgeting, and waited for the examination to end.

The Saintess let go of my face after taking no less than twice the usual examination time.

“There, it’s done! There’s nothing wrong.”

“That’s the obvious result. I wasn’t injured in the first place.”

At my nonchalant tone, the Saintess frowned and raised her index finger, shaking it from side to side.

“Tsk tsk! The body isn’t everything! You could have psychological trauma!”

“But I’m fine, aren’t I? So it’s okay.”

“You’re too careless!”

Perhaps my attitude annoyed her, the Saintess placed her hands on her hips and scolded me.

I’m sorry for thinking this, but she’s just like a mother.

‘Though I was an orphan.’

Just as I was about to fall into sentimentality, Isis suddenly pushed me down, separating me from the Saintess.

“Just in case, stay lying down!”

“I’m really fine, though.”

“Even so! I’ll keep an eye on you, so don’t worry. Saintess-nim, your examination is over, so you can go see other patients now.”

Isis subtly shifted her gaze towards the door. Even if the other person had no intention of leaving, such a gesture would inevitably put pressure on them.

However, if that other person was the Saintess, things were different.

“No! I can’t do that. Because I’m the type who must ensure a patient I’ve taken on makes a full recovery! Rather, Young Lady Isis, are you sure it’s alright for you to keep staying here? You must have a lot of work to do in the student council.”

“No problem. The Crown Prince-nim has to approve it anyway.”

“Is that so? Then that means I’ll have to leave when the Crown Prince-nim arrives, right? I should stay to prepare for that moment!”

Was it just my imagination? For some reason, intense sparks seemed to fly between the two of them.

I tilted my head, but couldn’t help but chuckle.

‘Still, it’s a relief they’re both here.’

This incident had ruined even my relationship with Sara, which had made me a little depressed, but there were still so many good people around me.

I prayed I wouldn’t lose any more precious connections.

*

Meanwhile, at that moment, Sara and Verdan were having their unfinished date in the garden.

They had just arrived at the fountain.

“The weather is really nice.”

“…Yes. It is.”

“It feels like an illusion that there was a Dark Cult attack just yesterday. Hahahaha!”

At Verdan’s words, Sara’s face darkened.

Along with the memory of being violated by Ruan, a strong sense of guilt gnawed at her conscience.

As she maintained a quiet silence, Verdan, who had stopped in front of the fountain, turned to Sara and began to speak.

“Sara.”

“……Yes? What did you just….”

Sara was startled by Verdan’s behavior, who always meticulously used honorifics. When she cautiously asked, he gently took her hand.

“I’ve been agonizing over this since I regained consciousness yesterday until this morning. And I’ve realized it for sure. I need you.”

“Professor Verdan. That’s….”

“That’s right. I love Sara. At first, I just thought you were a splendid and beautiful person. But during the time we spent together, that feeling developed into love. I want to spend every moment with you from now on. …Will you date me?”

Verdan’s orange eyes met hers squarely, filled with affection. Sara felt both joy and sorrow simultaneously.

‘What should I do?’

She fell deep into thought.

Even though it was to save Verdan, she had allowed another man to touch her body. Even if he said it was okay, she couldn’t forgive herself.

Beyond Verdan’s gentle smile, her own image, defiled with semen and vaginal fluid, overlapped.

How was I back then?

‘I was vulgar.’

Impaled by Ruan’s dick, feeling pleasure and howling lewdly like a sow.

She said she didn’t want it, but in truth, her body trembled with the stimulation Ruan gave her. If Ruan hadn’t lifted her and moved her right in front of Verdan, she might have completely forgotten about him.

She was that pathetic.

To hide this fact and date Verdan would be tantamount to toying with him.

But she didn’t have the courage to reveal the whole truth. She couldn’t bear to see that affection stained with hatred and betrayal.

Therefore, it would be more beneficial for him not to start at all.

Sara bowed her head deeply.

“Thank you for seeing me in a good light. But I can’t date you, Professor Verdan.”

“…Is it because I have a deceased wife?”

Verdan married at a relatively young age. He had married the wife he began dating since the Academy at the mere age of 23.

And he had lost his wife five years ago.

At his voice, tinged with bitterness, Sara suppressed the desire to deny it and gave a faint nod.

“Yes. I’m sorry. You’ll be able to meet someone better.”

“No. There is no woman better than Sara. I’m sure of it. Are you… truly saying no?”

”…I’m sorry. I’ll be going now.”

Sara quickly turned her back.

Because if she delayed even a little longer, she felt her tears would burst forth at any moment.

However, Verdan’s hand was faster than her feet.

“Just a moment.”

He grabbed Sara’s arm and pulled her arm forcefully, then gently lifted her chin.

Her eyes were brimming with tears.

“But why are you so sad?”

“It’s… because some dust got in. Please let me go.”

Sara tried to pull Verdan’s hand away, wiping away her tears with her sleeve.

But Verdan held her arm tightly and didn’t let go.

“That’s a lie. Tell me. Is something going on?”

“…….”

“Come on! I can’t let you go like this.”

At his resolute expression, Sara made a tearful face and shook her head.

“I can’t say. Never!”

“Why not? Any secret is fine. I don’t care!”

“…No. Please just leave me alone.”

When Sara finally couldn’t hold back and pleaded, tears streaming down her face, Verdan slowly let go of her arm.

He stepped back and said.

“I can’t give up like this. No matter what your circumstances are, I will continue to stay by Sara’s side. Don’t even think about pushing me away.”

“Why are you doing all this? What am I to you?!”

Sara cried out as if in a tantrum. Verdan replied with a sad smile.

“You are the person I love. Do I need any other reason?”

“…You foolish man.”

“It’s fine if you call me a fool. Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

With that promise, Verdan disappeared.

Sara beat her chest as if frustrated.

“Fool! Idiot!”

All of it was directed at herself.

She resented herself for not even being able to properly refuse him, and also harbored infinite affection for Verdan, who wouldn’t give up.

In proportion to that, a surging guilt made tears stream ceaselessly from her eyes.

“Sob! Sob… Wahhh!”

Five minutes later, the sound of a woman’s weeping filled the garden.