I pretended to be unconscious until Kalian’s group returned from annihilating the Kragnols’ settlement.
They found Lumia unconscious nearby and ended the lesson by escorting her out of the forest.
To explain Lumia’s unconsciousness and the beast’s corpse, I made up a story for Kalian, Evelyn, and Elia:
“Lumia and I were cornered, and when I came to, the beasts were already dead. Someone must have saved us.”
Kalian and Evelyn, who knew about me, recognized the lie but pretended not to notice.
The professor in charge of the lesson didn’t react either—injuries and fainting were common occurrences.
After the lesson, Lumia, still unconscious, was admitted to the Arkana hospital.
The next day, Kalian and I visited the hospital to check on Lumia.
“Are you Lumia’s guardians?” the nurse asked.
“No, we’re friends,” Kalian replied.
“Sorry, but she’s not accepting visitors right now. Could you come back later?” The nurse looked uncomfortable as she blocked our visit.
It wasn’t because her injuries were severe or her treatment incomplete—she was probably just embarrassed about running away and leaving me behind.
“Understood,” I said as we turned away.
Kalian seemed concerned.
“She must have been really shaken. Let’s give her some time to rest.”
“Yeah,” I agreed.
“But where are you going? The exit’s that way.”
I held up a basket of fruit.
“Where else? Her room.”
“Wait, didn’t they just say no visitors?”
“They can say no, but are they really going to kick us out after we came all this way? I even brought fruit. Let’s at least see her face.”
Avoiding the nurses’ attention, we snuck into Lumia’s room.
She flinched when she saw us from her spot, gazing out the window.
“Ah!”
“What, guilty about something? Why so startled? We brought fruit—let’s eat together.”
“Why are you guys here…?”
“Is it so strange for friends to visit?”
I casually sat by her bed.
She was as withdrawn as when we first met, avoiding eye contact with me.
The hospital gown made her already dispirited appearance even worse.
Kalian asked, “How are you feeling? You didn’t seem seriously hurt last time.”
“Yeah… I was wearing armor, so I wasn’t badly injured. They said I could be discharged today or tomorrow.”
“That’s a relief. I was worried something might’ve gone wrong… Sorry for leaving you guys yesterday.
That’s why this happened.”
“N-No!” Lumia stood up, waving her hands in denial as Kalian bowed his head apologetically.
“It’s all my fault. If I were stronger… No, if I hadn’t fallen behind, none of this would’ve happened.”
“Don’t say that. It’s my fault.”
“No, it’s my fault!”
As they argued over who was to blame, I continued peeling and eating fruit.
“Hey, stop eating all the fruit! It’s for the patient!” Kalian protested.
“What’s she going to do with it? She probably doesn’t even have an appetite. This is for the visitors.”
“Still, the one who bought it shouldn’t eat it all!”
Our bickering made Lumia smile faintly.
After chatting for a bit and confirming her discharge date, we decided to leave.
“Wait, Wade. Can you stay for a moment? I have something to say,” Lumia called out as we were leaving.
Kalian smirked and quietly left the room, leaving me behind with Lumia.
Whatever he was imagining, it wasn’t that.
“Wade.”
“Yeah?”
“… Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
She fidgeted with her fingers, keeping her head down.
“I’m so glad… I was so sure something terrible had happened to you after that day.”
“From what I’ve heard, it was a close call.”
“About that day… I wanted to apologize.”
“Apologize? For what?”
“I… I left you there…”
Her voice trembled as she gripped the blanket tightly, reliving the events in her mind.
Should I let her confess her guilt? If it would help her grow, I’d forgive her.
But even if I did, she might never forgive herself and crumble under the weight of her guilt.
Scratching my head, I said, “Honestly, I don’t remember much about that day.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“I remember following Kalian and lying down for a bit, but when I woke up, the lesson was over.
People said it was dangerous, but I really don’t remember.”
“You really don’t remember…? Are you serious?”
“Yeah, maybe I got hit in the head or something.”
“Then you don’t even remember what I…?”
“What, did you do something weird while I was unconscious?”
“Ah…”
I decided to give her a way out again.
I pretended not to notice the guilt, helplessness, and frustration Lumia would have to face eventually, allowing her to laugh it off for now.
“Pfft… So that’s what happened,” she said with a chuckle.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Okay? You telling me you just woke up and the lesson was over is hilarious! Pfft… hahaha…”
Her laughter soon turned into sobbing.
Later, Lumia seemed curious about the mysterious person who saved her, but I brushed it off, avoiding any discussion that might touch on my “lost memory.”
Outside the hospital room, I organized my thoughts.
How did things end up like this?
The original scenario for this lesson was supposed to involve Kalian showcasing his abilities during a crisis caused by the Kragnols’ leader.
This was completely different.
It felt too deliberate.
Even if the Kragnols were intelligent, targeting Lumia and me, who had fallen behind, was unusually strategic.
This had to be human interference.
But whose doing? There were too many suspects.
As I mulled over potential culprits, someone familiar approached the hospital entrance—Elia, one of the story’s antagonistic heroines who had grown close to Kalian recently.
“Oh my, Wade! What brings you here?” she greeted me cheerfully, walking briskly toward me.
“Visiting Lumia, I suppose? I came to see her too. How is she doing? Is she okay?”
“Yes,” I replied curtly.
“Thank goodness! I was so worried. Oh, I brought her a little gift! Would you take a look?”
She happily showed me handmade dolls resembling Kalian, Lumia, Evelyn, and me.
When I saw them, I knew.
It was her.
Elia was the one who manipulated the Kragnols to try to kill Lumia and me.
Elia Bellmore had a peculiar habit: gifting dolls resembling herself to those she considered her “toys.”
I didn’t need to explain what “toys” meant to her or how she treated them.
“These dolls are adorable. Mind if I take a closer look?”
“Of course! Oh…?”
Rip.
I tore the dolls apart without hesitation.
Elia’s gaze shifted between the ruined pieces on the ground and me.
“Why? These were for everyone…”
“No particular reason. Just as you had no particular reason to make them.”
“Why are you doing this? Please explain, or I… I might be truly hurt!”
“This is a hospital; feel free to get as hurt as you want.”
Elia tried to retort but instead covered her reddened eyes and ran off down the hallway.
Her performance was top-notch.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was genuinely hurt.
Too bad she ruined it by peeking from around the corner to gauge my reaction.
I crushed the remains of the dolls underfoot and left the hospital.
“What’s with today?” I muttered.
“What do you mean?”
Outside, I bumped into Evelyn, carrying a large fruit basket and bouquet—typical gifts for a hospital visit.
“Visiting Lumia?” I asked.
“What? No!” she blustered, then quickly added, “Well… yes, I am. It’s a noble’s duty to look after the weak.”
“You used to call her insignificant,” I pointed out.
She cleared her throat. “Even the lowly deserve kindness. Do you think me heartless?”
“Yes,” I replied bluntly, walking past her.
“What? That’s it?!” she exclaimed.
“What more is there to say?”
“‘Good job yesterday’ or ‘the weather’s nice today’—basic conversation!”
“Good job. The weather’s nice. Bye.”
“No effort! None at all!”
She grabbed my arm, determined not to let me go.
“Wait here,” she commanded.
“Why?”
“I have something important to discuss with you—something urgent.”
“Fine. Just let go. I’m not running off.”
Satisfied, she studied my face for a moment before disappearing into the hospital.
Curiosity kept me from leaving.
What could be so important that she sought me out?
Her visit to Lumia was surprising enough.
Soon, she emerged, her visit clearly defying the nurse’s instructions as well.
“She looked like she’d been crying,” Evelyn remarked.
“Probably,” I replied.
“Was she upset about being left behind?”
“Who knows.”
We started walking, the conversation left hanging.
To be continued…
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