🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 26
The day after we spent a night in the mountains, we didn’t return to the garrison until evening.
Calix, who got down from the carriage ahead of me, turned back indifferently and said,
“I’ll come to your room in about an hour.”
“Pardon?”
When I asked in confusion, Calix slightly lifted the corner of his lips and asked back,
“Why are you so surprised?”
“Oh, no. It’s just that it’s already quite late at night…”
It was strange. Ever since I’d resolved that I would have to awaken him soon, even situations I wouldn’t have cared about before made me overly conscious for no reason.
As if the moment we were alone, we’d end up kissing.
“And?”
To Calix, who asked again with innocent eyes, I smiled and said,
“I was just going to tell you to come carefully.”
“Alright. I’ll be very careful.”
Maybe it was just my imagination, but Calix seemed to be smiling in a peculiar way.
But what does he want to talk about at this hour?
While imagining various possibilities for his visit, I returned to my room, unpacked, and washed away the dust that had built up during the trip.
After changing clothes and drying my hair a bit—
Knock, knock.
“Riana.”
Calix’s voice came from outside the door.
The moment I heard it, I unconsciously looked into the mirror. I hastily smoothed my messy hair with my hands, checked my face once more to see if there was any eye gunk, and only then realized what I was doing and turned my gaze away.
Why am I even worrying about this… Get a grip.
I forced myself to steady my mind and opened the door with slightly trembling hands.
“…Riana?”
An utterly unexpected face stared at me for a moment, then—
“Riana! It really was you!”
She pulled me into a tight embrace.
“Ayla?!”
Ah, I see.
Ayla was an old temple companion of mine, and she had officially become a priest in the most recent aptitude test.
Still in Ayla’s arms, I glanced at Calix. My face grew inexplicably warm.
If he was going to bring someone with him, he could’ve said so…!
Thinking about how I’d just been fussing over my face and hair because of him made me want to crawl into a mouse hole, but I tried not to show it.
Calix looked slightly surprised at the sight of us sharing such an emotional hug, then passed by us as if giving us space and entered the room first.
Once things had calmed down a bit, Ayla came inside, sat on the chair by the bed, and held my hands tightly with both of hers, refusing to let go.
Watching us, Calix spoke first.
“Do you know each other?”
“Yes, of course.”
Ayla answered him, squeezing my hands as she added,
“We’re best friends. How could you go all this time without contacting me?”
“I’m sorry. Things just… happened.”
“And how did you get bitten this badly? Ghouls aren’t exactly common monsters!”
“Well… that also just sort of happened.”
Even back when she was an apprentice priest, Ayla mostly did healing service work. Still, I never expected her to come all the way out here.
In any case, I was relieved she’d come. I’d been worried that if one of those ill-tempered senior priests from the temple showed up instead, I’d be subjected to endless mockery—I’d even prepared comeback lines.
“Let me check your condition first.”
“Okay.”
I entrusted myself to Ayla without hesitation. There was no need to hide anything from her—she was one of the people who knew me better than anyone.
She had even been there at the ruins of that abandoned village, when my self-healing ability first manifested.
“I’m fine.”
At my words, concern creased Calix’s brow once more. He probably thought I was pretending to be fine again.
After watching us quietly for a moment, Calix stepped closer.
“Priest, please examine her properly. Riana was seriously injured by ghouls, yet she keeps insisting she’s fine. That worries me even more.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Ayla closed her eyes for a moment, letting holy power flow through my body. Then she gently opened them and looked straight into my eyes.
I didn’t need her to say anything. I knew what that look meant.
You’re perfectly fine?
I blinked once in response.
I told you so.
Even so, my arms were still covered in dark bite marks here and there. To anyone who didn’t know about my ability, there was no way I could look “fine.”
“What is it? Is it serious?”
Interpreting Ayla’s silence as something grave, Calix stepped even closer and asked. I held Ayla’s hand and blinked twice.
This signal meant—
Make something up, appropriately.
Ever since we were kids, whenever my self-healing worked too well, I’d pretend to be hurt to avoid unnecessary trouble, and Ayla was always the one who’d play along. There was no way she wouldn’t recognize the signal.
“Ah, Riana’s condition is…”
As Ayla began to speak, Calix focused intently on her words.
She continued in a practiced manner.
“Thanks to the prompt initial response, she’s passed the critical point. However, I think I’ll need to look after her for a few days.”
“I thought so.”
As if he’d heard the answer he wanted, Calix let out a small sigh. Then, with a strangely reproachful look, he came closer and placed his hand on my head.
“If it was going to come out anyway, why did you keep pretending you were fine?”
“Ah, well…”
This was bad. I was terrible at handling sudden questions like this.
Because I really am fine?
Only wrong answers floated through my mind, when Ayla stepped in.
“Captain.”
I knew I could count on Ayla!
“Riana lost her parents at a young age, and she was mistreated by thugs and beggars—”
…Ayla, have you lost your mind?!
I quickly shoved Ayla aside and cut in.
“Oh, it’s just because I thought you’d worry too much about me, Captain.”
Calix’s eyes narrowed slightly. Before he could say anything else, I hurried on.
“You already have so many other things to worry about. I thought I’d be fine if I just rested a little more, so I didn’t want to make a fuss by saying I was hurt. That’s all.”
“Riana.”
Calix gently patted my head as he spoke.
“You think too deeply—that’s your flaw. I just wish you’d be honest with me about everything.”
Someday soon, there really will be a day when I tell you everything honestly.
I briefly imagined how he might react when I truly told him everything, then forced the thought away and nodded.
“Yes, I understand.”
“Good. Then, Priest, I’ll leave her in your care. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Calix opened the door and stepped out.
Click. Thud.
The moment the door closed, Ayla’s sharp hand smacked me square on the back.
“Hey! How! Could! You?!”
“Ow! Is there a priest who beats a patient like this?”
“You just left without a word! No contact, nothing! I thought you were dead!”
“I came out so I wouldn’t die.”
“What does that even mean?”
I didn’t have the confidence to explain that I’d left to avoid dying pointlessly after becoming a saintess, so I just smiled.
“I figured I’d have a future if I came out into the outside world.”
“And that ‘future’ is… the captain of the Hennes Mercenary Company that we’ve only heard rumors about?”
Ayla narrowed her eyes.
“Huh? What are you—”
“You know how even the senior priests used to talk about him sometimes. They said the captain of the Hennes Mercenary Company had unbelievable looks. Wow, after seeing him today, I was honestly speechless for a moment. He really looks like someone blessed by the gods. Don’t you think so?”
It was true. More than just blessed by the gods—he was destined to become their proxy and save the world.
I couldn’t bring myself to say that, and instead dodged the question.
“What do you want me to say?”
Because I’d cut my words short, unable to voice my true thoughts, Ayla seemed to think I was denying Calix’s looks. She smacked my back again and said,
“Honestly, I thought the rumors were exaggerated, but when I get back, I’m telling everyone the opposite—that the rumors actually undersell him. But…”
As she continued, Ayla tilted her head.
“Have I seen him before, even just in passing? I don’t recognize the front, but his profile feels oddly familiar.”
“If you had, you’d remember.”
“Yeah, that’s true. There’s no way I wouldn’t remember someone like that.”
Ayla immediately agreed with me, then gave my shoulder another pat.
“Anyway, it’s really great to see you! Since I’m here, I’ll rest for a few days before leaving.”
“Shouldn’t you at least pretend to treat me?”
At my words, Ayla replied boldly,
“What is there for me to do? You’re already perfectly fine. Bruised skin will disappear after a few days of rest anyway. Right?”
This is why best friends are dangerous—there’s nothing you can hide.
“That may be true, but from other people’s perspectives, you should at least do something.”
“Don’t worry about that. For appearances, I’ll sprinkle some holy water. I’ll also contact the temple right away and say that ghoul poison is extremely dangerous, so it’ll take longer than expected. Let’s see… I was only planning to stay about three days, but I should stay a week instead.”
“…Aren’t you busy, Priest?”
“Very. Busy treating you.”
“…Wow. Still shameless, I see.”
“That’s who I am.”
“Yeah. That’s you.”
For the first time in a long while since leaving the temple, I laughed comfortably. This was probably one of the best things about having known someone for so long.
“I’m glad I got bitten by a ghoul. I got to see you like this.”
Ayla paused for a moment, then replied with slightly reddened eyes.
“Yeah. So make sure you get injured regularly from now on.”
Her friendship really was something else.
“Oh, and if possible, make it undead-related. That way I can stay longer.”
“Can a priest be charged with fraud?”
“Fraud? Your ability is the fraud. I’m innocent.”
“…Then should I just beat you up?”
It was a beautiful night, with friendship in full bloom.
