EULE 87

Chapter 87

I didn’t know what kind of expression I should wear when facing Lionel now. I had already made plans to train with him tomorrow to prepare for the monster resistance test.

Still, I was glad I had a day. I would at least have some time to figure out how to face him.

Once the final exams were over, it would be vacation. By then, even if I wanted to see Lionel, I wouldn’t be able to.

I just had to endure until the end of the finals. If I registered my classes carefully for the fall semester so that they didn’t overlap with his, I could graduate without running into him.

It was obvious that our connection would naturally fade away. It was a bond that could easily break.

It had been maintained only because I had stubbornly clung to it, unwilling to let go.

A damp sigh, not yet fully erased, escaped between my lips.

Contrary to my expectation that I would have time to think, the moment to face Lionel came much sooner than anticipated.

In front of the boarding house, under the crimson streetlight, a shadow stretched long—a figure I never imagined I’d see here.

The moment I saw him, I froze in place.

Hearing my presence, Lionel slowly lifted his head.

“Hi.”

“Ah…”

I stiffened on the spot. I hadn’t expected to face Lionel so soon.

What expression should I wear? No, it wasn’t something I could decide.

I didn’t even know what expression I was wearing now—whether it was a face twisted in pain, or a blank, emotionless one.

I just hoped it would be a natural face, no different from how I usually treated him.

As Lionel took a step toward me, I instinctively stepped back. Seeing this, he didn’t approach any further.

Thus, Lionel remained under the dazzling streetlight, and I could hide myself in the dark shadows beyond its reach.

“S-senpai… what brings you here…?”

No matter how I thought about it, there was no reason for Lionel to come all the way to the boarding house. If it were important, he would have summoned me via the community system.

“Have you been busy today?”

“Ah, n-no. No… yes. A little…”

I had meant to say no, but I changed my words. I needed an excuse to avoid Lionel from now on, so I had to start making reasons, even if little by little, to not meet him.

“I see. So you were too busy to see my messages on the community?”

“Ah… that’s not it. My… community bracelet broke, so I left it at the administrative office for repair.”

“Ah, so that’s why you didn’t see my message. I was worried since I didn’t get a reply.”

“I- I see. Nothing happened.”

I lowered my eyes to avoid meeting Lionel’s gaze directly.

I had nothing more to say. Twisting my fingertips nervously, I endured the long, heavy silence.

“Wait a moment. Come here.”

Then Lionel, under the streetlight, grabbed my hand and pulled me closer.

My face became clearly visible under the light.

Even the swelling around my eyes, hidden by darkness until now, was fully revealed.

Lionel already knew that I had cried. He had seen it for himself earlier at the academy.

Yet, as if noticing for the first time, he reached out to my eyes.

“What’s with your eyes? Did you cry?”

Just as his hand was about to touch my eyes, I instinctively swatted it away and stepped back.

Darkness fell over me again, outside the streetlight.

“Ah…”

Though I had pushed him away, I looked more startled than he did—as if I had been hurt myself.

“I came on too suddenly, didn’t I? You were startled. Sorry.”

“N-no, I’m s-sorry.”

I clutched my wrist, shaking my head desperately.

Lionel didn’t want my apology. My feebleness couldn’t harm him at all.

He wanted to know why I had cried.

What could have made me cry so bitterly? Did Adrian, who comforted me, even know why I cried? The thought drove him nearly mad.

I hadn’t replied to his messages all day, no matter how many times he had tried to reach me.

He tried not to care, but all afternoon, I lingered in his mind.

Worry turned to frustration, then quickly to anger.

‘Whatever happened, shouldn’t you at least reply? How can you make someone worry like this?’

He wanted to search the academy for me, but he couldn’t move freely under Rozia’s watch. His anger surged.

Even though he now understood why I hadn’t replied, Lionel still wasn’t satisfied.

The lingering memory of our tender embrace refused to leave his mind.

Seeing it made him feel suffocated.

That was why he came here. He wanted me to tell him what had happened today.

No matter what, he needed to see my face today to calm the emotions he felt back then.

He had even pretended to head home, going through the trouble of separating Rozia, just to come here.

Yet, I wasn’t even looking at him.

Until yesterday, my eyes had sparkled when I saw him—but now, that girl was gone.

What on earth could have changed me overnight?

We stood silently for a moment. The cold silence broke when Lionel spoke first.

“If it’s okay, shall we take a walk?”

I slowly nodded. Walking side by side was far better than looking into each other’s eyes—it was easier to avoid his gaze that way.

My mind was in chaos. Just being with Lionel still made my heart flutter, but the conflicting desire to drift away from him dominated me.

As we walked quietly, Lionel suddenly asked:

“When will you give it to me?”

“H- h-huh? Give what?”

“My birthday present.”

“H- how did you know I prepared a birthday gift?”

I was flustered.

‘How did he know? Could he have heard my conversation behind the door?’

“Stephan asked if you got your birthday gift.”

Ah… my tense body relaxed completely.

“You prepared it and now you’re not giving it?”

“J- just a moment.”

I pulled out the gift I had kept in my pocket. The wrapping paper was crumpled on one side from my tear stains.

Hiding the wrinkled side, I handed the gift to Lionel. I thought I wouldn’t be able to give it, but in the end, it reached its owner.

“Here… it is.”

“Thanks. Can I open it now?”

I nodded.

“It’s n-not anything special.”

Lionel sat on a nearby bench, unwrapping the gift and opening the box.

“This… is a magical tool?”

“Yes. It’s a magical tool engraved with a defensive spell. I think it can only be used once.”

“Why are you giving me this?”

I couldn’t understand why Lionel was giving me this gift.

The magical tool in the box seemed more necessary for me than for him. No one had ever cared about Lionel’s safety before.

As a magic swordsman, he could handle both swords and magic, which was notoriously difficult, and everyone at this academy knew his defensive abilities were extraordinary.

“I- I could only give you this…”

“You could have engraved other magic circuits. I’m curious why you gave me one with a defensive spell.”

“Y- you never know what might happen. I hope you won’t need it, but just in case…”

“Why? Were you worried about me? Afraid something might happen?”

I fiddled with my fingers and nodded.

I didn’t forget to steal glances at his reaction, making sure he noticed.

I had returned. I was looking at him, thinking of him again.

It didn’t feel bad to have someone worry about me. No, to be precise—it felt quite nice. Somewhere deep in my chest, it tickled.

Lionel met my eyes and placed the box in his arms. My gaze shifted slightly away from him.

But that was okay. It wasn’t like before, when I was avoiding him—it was more like I couldn’t look him in the eye properly.

“Thank you so much. I’ll always carry it with me.”

I nodded quietly.

“…Is that all?”

As if expecting something more, Lionel asked.

“Ah? Y- yes…”

I fumbled. This was all I had prepared for him. I had nothing else to give.

“I like this gift, but I want something more.”

“B- but I have nothing else to give…”

I fiddled with my fingers and avoided his gaze. It was true. This magical tool was the best thing I could give him.

Yet, seeing it in Lionel’s hands made it feel so small and insignificant.