Lumia’s trauma recovery plan went smoothly.
Being able to handle mana again, which she hadn’t been able to use properly, and overcoming the habit of freezing in crisis situations were great results.
Although there’s still a long way to go, this much progress is enough to establish Lumia’s basic capabilities.
Even though she got slightly injured during this process, it’s much better than facing a terrible death in the future.
After the operation ended, we gathered at Noiren Castle, where we first assembled.
Lumia quickly regained her composure, but since I was pretending to be injured, I had no choice but to stay bedridden.
“Are you awake, meow?”
When I slowly opened my eyes, Serena was staring down at me with her face close, blinking her eyes.
Though I never lost consciousness, I pretended to be confused to make my act more convincing.
“Where am I?”
“We’re back at the castle, meow. The mission is over, and now you just need to recover, meow.”
“What about Lumia?”
“She’s fine, meow. Her injuries were lighter than yours, so she woke up a long time ago, meow.”
Serena stared at me blankly for a moment, then poked my face repeatedly like a cat kneading.
“Asking about her first thing when you wake up? You’re quite an odd one, meow. I heard the story, meow. They said you threw yourself to save Lumia… Is that true, meow?”
“Did I do that?”
“That’s unexpected, meow. I thought for sure you’d leave Lumia behind and run away.”
“What have I done to make you think of me so negatively?”
“What wouldn’t a guy who picks a merchant’s pocket do, meow? You’re so crafty that it wouldn’t be surprising if you orchestrated this whole situation, meow.”
“That’s just absurd.”
She must be joking, right?
Is she still holding a grudge about that time I used Kalian as leverage to take her purse?
“Why did you do that, meow? Anyone else would’ve prioritized their own life in that situation. Why did you save Lumia, meow?”
“Why, you ask? Because she’s my friend.”
“Friend? You’ve only known each other for a few months at most. Risking your life for that? It doesn’t make sense, meow.”
“What doesn’t make sense about it? Everyone was going to die if I didn’t do something, so I just acted out of desperation.”
“Nyahaha, you caused such chaos and still sound so carefree, meow.”
She pulled out a fruit basket and placed it on the table next to my bed.
“So, how did things turn out?”
“The northern region Kalian managed is completely settled, meow. Most of the organizations in the southwest, which you and Lumia were supposed to just investigate, have fled.”
“Fled?”
“The Red Wolf disappeared overnight, and the castle was split in two. They probably realized they couldn’t handle it. There are still a few stubborn groups left in the south and east, but thanks to this, the area around Noiren is much safer, meow.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Good? Your mission was a simple investigation, not a full-scale operation, meow. Doing something so dangerous is a problem, meow.”
“As long as the results are good.”
“Nyah… Just remember, your life is your greatest asset, meow. It’s a shame to waste it like this, meow.”
With that, Serena left, saying she had a lot of work to do and only stopped by briefly.
After she left, Kalian and Lumia entered the room.
Kalian, as expected, was perfectly fine.
Of course—how could someone I’ve trained be injured in a place like this?
Lumia, on the other hand, was covered in bandages and using crutches.
Still, perhaps because her mana flow had been restored, she moved lightly for someone injured.
She’d probably recover quickly.
Kalian looked down at me.
“This is more dramatic than I imagined.”
I was almost entirely wrapped in bandages, with splints on my arms and legs.
If I wanted to, I could get up right now and do a backflip, but I had to play the part of a patient.
Lumia gasped, bringing her hand to her mouth.
“Wade… Are you okay?”
I looked at her silently for a moment before slowly opening my mouth to speak.
“Who… are you?”
“Huh…?”
“Sorry, but I can’t remember anything. Who’s Wade? Is that my name?”
“W-What?!”
My vague response startled Lumia so much that she dropped her crutches.
She didn’t even realize she had dropped them as she turned to Kalian, her eyes wide with panic.
Realizing the situation, Kalian immediately put on a serious expression.
“This is bad… Did he lose his memory? I’ve heard that head trauma can sometimes cause this. In severe cases, people forget who they even are.”
“This can’t be… because of me…”
“It’s not your fault. Wade was just unlucky. But this is a tricky situation. If we’re not careful, he might never regain his memory.”
“No… no way…”
Nicely done.
Though Kalian is terrible at lying, he makes an exception when it comes to joking.
He picked a grape from the fruit basket and held it up to me.
“What’s this?”
“Candy.”
“Calling a grape candy? Is even your common sense gone? Then what about me? Do you remember who I am?”
“Hmm… Dad? Are you my dad?”
“Dammit. Wade’s forgotten even me. We’ve been lifelong friends, and he doesn’t remember me at all.”
Kalian and I exchanged lines naturally, though it was all nonsense.
Hearing this, Lumia’s face turned pale.
“W-What?! Then what should we do?”
“Lumia, calm down and listen to me. For now… it’s likely Wade won’t even recognize his family.”
“…!”
“And since he thinks I’m his dad and you’re his mom… we’ll have to raise him together until his memory comes back.”
“W-What?!”
At Kalian’s sudden “parenthood” declaration, Lumia’s shoulders twitched in shock.
“Why? Can’t do it?”
“Uh, well… I… Is this for real?”
“Yeah, totally.”
“Ack… Oh no… Ugh…”
Her pupils trembled violently.
She was so flustered that she couldn’t even form proper words.
I figured it was time to put an end to the joke.
“Why are you so startled? Where else can you find a son as amazing as me?”
“Huh…?”
“Just kidding. I remember everything. Facing off against the Red Wolf in the southwest of Noiren, and almost dying to that lunatic.”
I stretched my shoulders stiffly, and Lumia’s eyes widened.
“Really…?”
“Really. People don’t just lose their memories that easily.”
“A-Ah… Jeez! Don’t joke about stuff like that! I thought my heart was going to stop!”
At last, she lightly smacked Kalian on the shoulder.
Then she moved to do the same to mine but hesitated, seemingly remembering that I was “injured.”
Instead, she gently patted my shoulder.
“Good… You really do remember. I’m so relieved.”
“Relieved is an overstatement.”
“Don’t say that. For me, it’s really… a huge relief. If I were the only one remembering everything, it’d be too sad.”
Lumia smiled warmly.
She then used a dagger to peel an apple and placed the slices neatly on a plate.
She even left the skin shaped like little rabbits, showing she must’ve done this often.
“You’re pretty skilled at this.”
“I’ve done it a lot for work. Now, eat up.”
Kalian and I each picked up a slice of apple and started eating.
Lumia wiped her dagger and said,
“Thank you… for saving me.”
“Thank me? I wasn’t the one who saved you, it was Kalian. Did you thank him?”
“Of course. As soon as I woke up, I went to thank him. Though just saying thanks doesn’t feel like enough… but at least I said it.”
For a woman, the most appealing man is often one who saves her from danger—a strong protector.
I had resolved Lumia’s trauma and set up the best possible scenario for Kalian to help her.
By now, Lumia must feel a deep sense of gratitude and admiration for Kalian.
“And I waited for you to wake up too. You saved me as well.”
“I was just trying to save myself. Since you’re stronger than me, I figured keeping you alive would increase my chances.”
“No… I don’t think so.”
Though I downplayed my actions as much as possible, Lumia shook her head firmly.
“More than anything, you’re not weaker than me. Your heart is so much more brilliant and stronger than you realize… and I’ve seen that for myself.”
“In that moment, I was saved by your heart. No matter what anyone says, even if you deny it yourself, you can’t change that truth.”
Lumia seemed lost in thought for a moment before speaking again.
“I was a coward—a person who would abandon her friends just to protect her own safety. Did you know? The truth is… I once ran away and left you behind.”
“Really?”
“You seem to have forgotten, but it wasn’t that long ago. That’s who Lumia was. And back then, I had no intention of changing that.”
She paused briefly, her expression shadowed.
“I was a coward. But… you changed me.”
“Don’t exaggerate. Like I said earlier, it was nothing. I acted on impulse, nothing more.”
Feeling that the conversation was heading in an awkward direction, I tried to steer it elsewhere.
Lumia’s admiration should be directed toward Kalian, not me.
I was meant to be nothing more than Kalian’s friend, an extra who helped bring them closer.
But ignoring my intentions, Lumia continued.
“It doesn’t matter if you acted on impulse or if it was a joke. What’s important is that I found hope in you.”
“Wait…”
“I’ve never told anyone this because I was too embarrassed, but… the truth is, I’ve always wanted to be a hero. Someone who helps those in need, even if it puts me in danger.”
Lumia smiled brightly.
“And Wade, you reminded me of that dream. You showed me what it means to be a hero.”
This line… I recognize it.
It’s not word-for-word, but it’s just like the scene where Lumia confesses her dream to Kalian after he saves her.
That moment is supposed to be the turning point where Lumia overcomes all her trauma and begins her true growth.
It’s also the moment where her bond with Kalian deepens significantly.
Wait, this confession should be directed to Kalian, not me.
I’m just the extra who threw himself into danger as a sacrifice.
But despite my intentions, Lumia opened her heart completely.
“Thank you—for saving my life, for ending my nightmares, and for helping me find my dream again. I’m still a coward, but… one day, I want to become someone as kind and strong as you, Wade.”
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