The campaign order Beatrice had temporarily issued was successfully resolved a day later through the joint efforts of the various adventurers.
Esper only now learned that it had been a sudden magical beast tide.
The Adventurer's Guild's post-incident report noted that “deep-level magical beasts were suspected of being collectively agitated due to some unknown factor.” No one associated the event with either the Pope or the Saintess.
As for Eladia's departure, the rumor circulating within the City of Holy Radiance was that the Saintess had been attacked and abducted by death marchers while resting, and the Hero, Esper, had immediately given chase, successfully rescuing her on the Northern Main Road.
It was concise, logical, and flawless.
No one but those directly involved knew the truth.
“And that is how things have played out over the last few days.”
Constantine stood before Esper's bed, looking at the black-haired girl propped half-upright against the headboard, wrapped tightly in bandages. White cloth strips wound from her forehead down to her neck, and from her neck to her arms and torso.
The only things left exposed were her eyes and her mouth.
Having finished his brief report on how the situation had been handled, he fell silent for a moment before finally failing to hold back.
“Is it really necessary for you to be wrapped up like that?”
“...Ela did it.”
Constantine glanced at the nightstand. On it sat a partially used roll of bandages and a few damp pieces of cotton cloth.
“Aren't you already mostly recovered from your injuries?”
Under the combined effects of the Authority of 『Blood』 and the high-grade healing potion generously provided by Yat, Esper had indeed recovered quickly.
But...
“...She was very earnest when she was wrapping them.”
“So you didn't refuse.”
“...”
Esper averted her eyes.
Constantine let out a deep sigh.
He decided not to pursue the subject any further.
Beatrice had been surprisingly quiet over the past few days, not even seeking her out to talk.
She had merely sent a message telling her to recover well, saying that as the Hero, she needed to take care of her health.
At least for the moment, she didn't seem to have any other schemes in mind.
And so, Esper was able to enjoy a few rare days of ordinary life.
Though for the most part, she was just being taken care of by Ela.
...
Yat left early the next morning.
Leaning on the crutches Eladia had forced upon her, Esper saw her off at the entrance of the sanatorium.
As she watched Yat's carefree retreating figure, she frowned slightly, sensing that something was amiss.
“Ah, Yat, wait a moment!”
“What is it, little Esper?~”
Yat turned back, a faint smile playing on her lips.
“I haven't paid you the hundred gold coins yet.”
“?”
Yat's lips twitched.
“Do you even have a hundred gold coins?”
“...I can get an advance from the Adventurer's Guild...”
“Just keep it on tab. We can settle it when the opportunity arises.”
Yat chuckled, placing a hand on Esper's head and giving it a gentle pat.
“But if you ever strike it rich, remember to pay me back with interest, okay?”
She waved, turned, and walked away.
Her boots clicked crisply against the cobblestone street, the sound gradually fading into the distance.
...
Noelle went offline on the very night Esper returned to the City of Holy Radiance.
Before she logged off, she left a message in their mental space:
“I have some things to handle. I need to report what happened this time to my teacher, after all. Get some good rest first, and we'll talk once you're healed.”
With that, the faint glow on the necklace went dark.
Esper stared at the necklace for a long time before letting out a helpless smile.
“...Thank you.”
...
On the third night.
In the private ward of the City of Holy Radiance's sanatorium, the candle had already been extinguished.
Moonlight seeped through the gap in the curtains, casting a silvery-white line across the floor.
Esper lay in bed, most of her bandages already removed, with only a thin layer remaining around her left arm and ribs.
Her body had basically fully recovered; she felt like she could get out of bed and fight several Beast Masks and Remains right now without any issue.
Yet, she didn't dare get up and walk around.
Because right now, there was someone else sharing her bed.
Strands of deep blue hair spread across the pillow, mingling with Esper's black hair.
Eladia lay on her side, facing Esper, so close that Esper could feel her breath.
『Pride』 remained inside her body.
The mechanics were unclear, but its effects seemed to persist.
Perhaps using it on others required the Black Tide as a medium to activate. If used on oneself, maybe it didn't require all those complex requirements.
Esper didn't know.
She only knew that Eladia was right there in front of her.
Having completely withdrawn her holy light into her body, she seemed as ordinary as any harmless, normal girl.
“Ela... your face... is too close...”
It was so close that she could count every single eyelash on the girl's eyelids.
“Mhm...”
Eladia did not pull back.
Her sky-blue eyes looked exceptionally bright in the moonlight, staring intently at Esper's face.
Then, her hand moved.
Groping beneath the blanket, she slid her hand forward inch by inch.
Then, she grasped Esper's hand.
A quiet moment passed.
Her eyes remained open, watching Esper's expression.
Esper's eyes were flustered, her shoulders tense, her breathing slightly erratic.
But she didn't pull her hand away.
So Eladia changed her grip.
Sliding her fingers between Esper's, she laced them together one by one until their palms were pressed tightly against each other.
Eladia nodded in satisfaction.
She spoke.
“Esper...”
“...Mhm.”
Esper responded somewhat meekly.
“Fina... who is she...?”
Esper's body froze.
“I heard you... when you were talking in your sleep these past few nights...”
Eladia's voice was very soft, carrying no hint of interrogation.
“You called out Fina's name several times...”
“...”
“Is she someone very important to you?”
Esper opened her mouth.
How should she answer?
What should she say?
Should she say that Fina was the Demon King? That Fina was the person she grew up with? That they had already broken off their ties?
“...Yes, she is someone very important to me.”
“I see. She was the first, wasn't she?”
Then silence fell.
Eladia did not press further.
She only pressed her face slightly closer.
“...Aren't you going to ask more?”
Esper asked, her voice slightly dry.
“You don't want to talk about her right now, do you, Esper...?”
Eladia spoke softly, but her grip tightened just a bit more.
“So... I only want to know one thing...”
She whispered, her voice as faint as a breath.
“Is Fina... more important than me...?”
“...”
Esper did not answer.
“...Esper...”
“I don't know.”
That was the only answer she could give.
“...That's fine then.”
There was no lingering hesitation, only the carefree relief of having settled a troubling matter.
Eladia closed her eyes.
Esper looked at her profile as she slept, feeling her breath gently brush against her face.
Was that the end of the conversation?
Then, there was a knock at the door.
Three crisp knocks.
Esper looked up.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Constantine stood at the entrance and turned on the light.
His gaze swept over the bed, taking in the sight of the two of them squeezed together on a single mattress.
He let out a deep, slow sigh with every ounce of his being.
“...Her Holiness the Pope has summoned you.”
“Now? In the middle of the night?”
“Now.”
Esper sat up.
Eladia also opened her eyes and sat up, her long, sky-blue hair sliding off her shoulders and falling over her white nightgown.
Her expression remained unchanged, but Esper noticed her fingers tightening around the corner of the blanket.
“...Let's go.”
Esper got out of bed first.
She extended her hand to Eladia.
“We'll go together.”
Eladia looked at the hand.
Then, she took it.
Rate on N.U.
