Chapter 85
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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Chapter 85
"You're injured."
Claude knelt before me, his expression grave as he examined my body.
My clothes were torn to shreds, exposing wounds beneath, and my ankles were swollen to an unrecognizable degree compared to before.
"Sigh...."
Claude exhaled heavily, then slipped his hands beneath my neck and behind my knees. In one smooth motion, he lifted me effortlessly into his arms.
I cried out in surprise.
"W-what are you doing?"
"I cannot allow a patient to walk."
"No, I can walk just fine."
"You intend to walk all the way back to the Military Camp on those legs?"
Claude looked down at me and shook his head firmly.
"That is not acceptable."
"But still...."
"Um, you two. We'll head back first. Take your time."
Melissa and Ahin abandoned us to our quarrel and hurried away.
In the empty space where not a single bird remained, only Claude and I were left.
"Carrying me like this feels rather awkward."
"What feels awkward about it? I'm simply carrying an injured person."
"That's not what I mean...."
I spoke in a voice barely above a whisper.
"...Your clothes will get all muddy."
In truth, this was what troubled me most.
Unlike Claude, who had only sunk halfway into the Swamp, I had plunged in completely, leaving me covered entirely in mud.
His soiled clothes were secondary.
'My face... it must look ridiculous.'
Mud was surely caked across my face as if I'd had a mud mask applied.
And hidden beneath all that grime, there might well be a large gash on my cheek.
To hide my face, I buried it against Claude's chest.
I felt him draw in a sharp breath.
'Why do I want to look good in front of Claude?'
Why did I only want to show this man my best self?
Why did my heart race whenever I was with him?
I lifted my face from his chest. He too lowered his gaze to meet mine.
"B-but how did you manage Wyvern and still come all the way here?"
Embarrassed by our locked eyes, I deliberately changed the subject.
"I entrusted matters to my unit members."
"Can the captain really do that?"
"They are capable members. Things run smoothly without me."
Claude's lips curved upward as he looked at me.
"So there's no need to apologize so much."
"...."
This man had even noticed that I was feeling indebted to him.
It was something I always sensed, but Claude seemed far more perceptive and delicate than I'd given him credit for.
"That said."
Claude, who had held me close for a moment, hardened his expression.
"Who gave you permission to make such a reckless decision?"
"A reckless decision?"
"Flying off on your own to lure Wyvern elsewhere without authorization."
Claude's brow furrowed as he looked down at me.
"I am the commander of the Subjugation Unit. You cannot act so unilaterally without my approval."
"I'm sorry for not listening."
Still, in my own way, it had been the best choice.
"It's not that I'm upset about you ignoring my orders. I was simply worried about you...."
Claude exhaled a heavy sigh.
"When I saw you standing before Hydra, my heart nearly stopped. If I hadn't arrived in time...."
Claude squeezed his eyes shut. I could see his lowered lashes trembling faintly.
"Thank you for saving me."
I offered my gratitude to him.
"As you said, if you hadn't appeared then, I would have died right there."
"Don't say such terrible things."
"But it's the truth."
I would have become Hydra's meal without question.
"I was certain I would die. My body was injured and I didn't know how to fight. But...."
In the moment I sensed death approaching, a miracle arrived.
"That's when you appeared."
"...."
"Like salvation itself."
Hearing my name called by your voice—I nearly wept.
"It wasn't like salvation. You are my true salvation."
My salvation, who found me and protected me.
Claude gazed at me silently before finally speaking.
"...That's true for me as well."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you remember the day of the Avalanche Site?"
I nodded. He was referring to the accident that occurred when I came to the Duke's Territory searching for Amelia.
"That day, I too thought I would surely die."
Claude's gaze turned toward a distant place. His expression was one of remembrance.
"The carriage door wouldn't open, no sounds reached me. The air wouldn't circulate, and I grew dizzy. I thought I would die like that. But."
Claude, who had been gazing into the distance, lowered his eyes. His deep blue eyes, holding the darkness of night, met mine in the empty space between us.
"I was on the verge of surrendering everything when the Young Lady appeared."
"...."
"It was like a miracle."
I recalled Claude, who had stared blankly at the hand I extended. Those eyes, trembling finely like water contained within them.
"From the day the Young Lady grasped my outstretched hand, she has been my miracle and my salvation."
"...."
"Not a single day has passed otherwise."
It was a confession dressed in words.
My heart thundered violently in response. I was terrified he might hear how rapidly it was beating.
Yet my heart was not the only one racing.
Through our pressed chests, I felt Claude's heartbeat transmitted to me. His heart was pounding just as fiercely as mine.
"We are alike, aren't we?"
He smiled down at me.
"...I suppose so."
That smile was more dazzling than the full moon hanging in the sky, so I had no choice but to avert my gaze and pretend not to notice.
* * *
The aftereffects of the awakening seemed quite severe, as Lucian slept through the entire day.
And I, too, suffered from those terrible aftereffects.
"The injuries aren't severe, but you've neglected them for far too long. For now, it would be best to keep a splint on your ankle."
Following the Physician's prescription, I had a splint applied to my leg.
In truth, compared to my other injuries, the sprained leg barely counted among my wounds.
Beyond simply falling from the sky, I had rolled across the ground, leaving my entire body covered in muscle soreness and lacerations. My arms, which had shielded my head, were particularly unmarred nowhere.
"Still, it's fortunate your bones didn't break."
It was a blessing to be alive after enduring something so terrifying.
"While there are no major injuries, you must rest completely for the time being. Refrain from any Subjugation Unit duties until the splint comes off."
"Yes."
"You must eat regularly and take your medicine on schedule, understood?"
"Yes... Huh."
Upon seeing the medicine the Physician handed me, I couldn't close my gaping mouth.
"What? Why is there so much medicine?"
"It's the karmic retribution of someone who doesn't take care of their own body."
"...."
There was nothing to say to that.
In the end, I had no choice but to leave the Military Camp with the medicine the Physician had prepared cradled in both my hands.
"Auntie!"
"Lucian!"
As I exited the Military Camp, Lucian rushed toward me. His face was puffy, suggesting he had just woken from sleep.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah. Completely refreshed."
"Good. You slept for more than a day and a half."
"Huh, really?"
Lucian's mouth fell open in astonishment.
"But you must have been exhausted. You used so much power. When you used your ability, I saw that Wyvern way off in the distance just vanish with a screech!"
"Really? Was I cool?"
"Yeah. You were the best."
"Hehe."
I stroked Lucian's head as he rubbed his cheek against the hem of my skirt. In just a few days, he seemed to have grown—the crown of his head reached a slightly different height now.
"It definitely felt different. Usually when I use my ability, it's like a gentle flow—shaaaa—but this time it was like a torrent—kwalkwalkwal!"
"A torrent?"
"Yeah. Like something just pouring out!"
Had his ability upgraded from a stream to a waterfall?
I would need to visit the Temple and discuss this. Not only had he defeated Hydra in one strike, but he'd also purified Wyvern from a distance—his power had clearly increased significantly.
"But Aunt."
Lucian, who had been nestled in my arms and acting affectionate, suddenly lifted his head.
"Hmm?"
"Don't you have something to say to me?"
"Something to say?"
I quickly searched my memory. I didn't think there was anything in particular I needed to tell him.
"You need to apologize to me!"
Lucian glared at me with an indignant expression, even placing both hands on his hips.
"You're always nagging me about not doing dangerous things, but you do way more dangerous stuff!"
"...."
"You promised you'd never leave my side, but you just went without saying anything!"
"...."
"That's not okay, is it? Huh?!"
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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