Suddenly, the atmosphere turned icy.
Yuren stared at Cluna with a stiff expression. To put it simply, she had a serious look on her face. Cluna, likewise, glared at Yuren with a cold expression.
The biggest problem here was that I was caught between them like a sandwich. Thanks to that, I couldn’t do anything and was utterly crushed under the momentum of these two strongest warriors.
When Yuren stood up and started walking towards Cluna, Cluna didn’t back away. Before long, the distance between them shrank to less than 5 cm.
A dragon and the strongest elf preparing to fight. Is this real? My heart swells. But please, fight when I’m not around. Actually, this isn’t the time. I hurriedly intervened to stop the fight.
“I don’t know why, but calm down, both of you.”
“Understood.”
“Then there’s nothing I can do.”
“……?”
In a situation that felt like a ticking time bomb ready to explode at any moment, suddenly both of them listened to my words and stepped back? Thanks to that, I was left with a dumbfounded expression.
Well, of course, it’s best if they don’t fight. Especially since Yuren and Cluna are both considered the strongest in the Royal Knights. But are they really going to fight?
If they do, the immediate damage is one thing, but the aftermath will be quite significant. Thinking about it in reverse, it also meant that stopping their fight wouldn’t be an easy task.
But for them to back down so easily, naturally, I couldn’t help but be dumbfounded. Honestly, I couldn’t help but think they were deliberately putting on a show. Soon I had to dismiss that notion.
“We’re letting it slide this time because of the commander, but be careful next time.”
“That’s what I should be saying.”
“Stop fighting!!”
I ultimately couldn’t hold back and shouted. After a bit of chaos, I found myself being led back to the hospital room by Cluna. I was exhausted.
Originally, I had escaped from the hospital room out of boredom. But today, going back and getting some sleep didn’t seem like a bad idea either. Suddenly, an question crossed my mind, and I opened my mouth.
“Why were you two about to fight earlier?”
“Wasn’t Yuren trying to ignore the commander’s injury?”
“I went directly to Yuren after escaping.”
“No, Yuren is in the wrong.”
“…….”
I felt the weight in her voice and couldn’t dare to respond differently. Had their relationship become this bad? I thought they were almost friends.
“Weren’t you two close originally?”
“That used to be the case.”
“So now it’s not good?”
“Yes, it has become that way.”
“That’s not good, not good at all.”
Comradery is fundamentally important. Especially when fighting under many just causes like the Royal Knights, to not be weighed down by those causes, sharing together is the best approach.
Even beyond that, back during the Blood Demon invasion. Didn’t we all come together to achieve victory? I can’t assert that there was no sense of comradeship there.
“Do you think the commander sees this situation negatively?”
“Exactly. It’s best for relationships to be good.”
“Then I understand.”
“Um?”
“Let’s have a talk with Yuren tomorrow.”
“Y-yeah, that would be great, but….”
What’s with this wavering? Earlier, they were ready to fight to the death. Now they seem to be backing down suddenly. There’s something oddly compliant about them…
While I was tilting my head at the strangeness, I finally arrived at the hospital room with Cluna. The room was very neat, probably because Cluna always managed it.
“First, I’ll start with basic checks.”
“When will the prosthetic from the Dwarf Republic arrive?”
“Expected to arrive tomorrow or the day after.”
“Guess I’ll be stuck here until then.”
I sighed. It’s true I’m a bit antsy after being cooped up for three days without doing anything. But after witnessing the earlier scene…
I started thinking it might be better to just rest here. Besides, it’s a chance to be liberated from that enormous commander’s workload. Concluding that, I entrusted myself to Cluna.
Cluna, looking familiar with it all, checked my physical condition through various tests. Losing limbs was a more serious symptom than anticipated. Excluding the hallucinations and discomfort of having one-arm…
There were many places to worry about, like the pus from the cuts and stopping the bleeding. Of course, I’m not missing an arm, but practically, it’s not much different…
“All done.”
“Really? Thanks for your hard work.”
“Commander, you worked hard too.”
“Now I should get some sleep.”
It was getting late. Outside the window, the sun had already set. Cluna’s fairies were walking along the hallway lighting torches. The beauty of darkness and torches was a medieval sight to behold.
“…….”
“…….”
“……What are you doing here?”
“For your safety, Commander.”
“Go back.”
Cluna, who had been sitting next to me and looking at me, nodded at my words and returned to her room. It’s always like this. Until I say something, she’s right next to me.
But once I give a command, she immediately complies. I sometimes wonder why she bothers doing it this way. But I also felt a bit guilty about questioning her compliance.
I lay on the bed, lost in thought. Is this how my day ends again? I hope the prosthetic arrives soon. I’ve rested enough; I want to do something instead.
[Hello?]
“…….”
The reason I didn’t scream wasn’t to uphold a commander’s dignity or anything. For a brief moment, I had seen something passing through the ceiling like a ghost.
Thanks to that, my vision momentarily turned white then returned to normal. I was so surprised that I fainted for a moment before waking up. I quickly jumped out of bed. What was that?
“This crazy… Where do you think you are just appearing out of nowhere?”
[That’s a bit much. You and I are practically one body.]
“Are you kidding? You took my eye and arm.”
[In exchange, I gave you strength. Isn’t that right?]
“So you think I’m not getting rid of you for that reason.”
What had suddenly popped out from the ceiling was none other than Time. In the past, it only appeared during urgent moments. Now it seems to have grown from devouring my body and comes out quite frequently.
From my perspective, it was bound to be unsettling. Not to mention it’s the ability of the Time Stop Breeding Uncle. I never know when it’ll decide to devour my body again. I clicked my tongue and said.
“Get lost quickly. Seeing you ruins my appetite.”
[Hmm? So it’s okay to see other guys then?]
“They’re a hundred times better than you.”
[You’re too trusting. You might get bitten in the end.]
“They are my proud comrades. That won’t happen.”
I replied firmly to Time’s words. Trying to stir things up. My comrades and I have been through trials and tribulations together. If they were to betray me…
That would mean there’s something wrong with me. The fact that they betrayed me would be the reality. I inherently trusted them that much. Time then burst out laughing.
[Ha! If you say so! Then I won’t say anything more!]
“So just get lost quickly.”
[I’m personally looking forward to it.]
“What?”
[Will you really forgive them? Or won’t you?]
Leaving behind an ambiguous reply, Time disappeared right in front of me. I tilted my head in confusion. Objectively, Time’s words were nonsense. I couldn’t understand what it was saying.
To begin with, they hadn’t done anything wrong. Why on earth would I have to forgive them all of a sudden? Yet, there was a strange discomfort stirring in my head. It was something I couldn’t easily dismiss.
Time’s words lingered in my mind. Nevertheless, I didn’t think it was appropriate for a transcendent being to suddenly say such things. Surely there must be something more to it.
However, right now, no matter how much I thought about it, it just gave me a headache. Eventually, I couldn’t figure anything out and fell asleep. Let’s think about tomorrow when tomorrow comes.
For now, I’m just sleepy.
*
It’s ridiculous.
To think he’s trying to take mine with such trivialities. If I set my mind to it, I could untie that any time. But at the same time, I’m curious. Will he truly forgive them?
Or will he leave them behind? When he relinquishes that pathetic power, I can’t help but anticipate his reaction. But if I let him go now, he might just move on without much thought.
He’s that kind of person. He’s so accommodating that he’d let go of trivial things. So, for now, let’s just wait. People make mistakes in time.
And when he can’t just let things go anymore. Let’s make him release that pathetic power. What kind of expression will you make then? Hatred? Betrayal? Anger? I don’t know, but.
I’m looking forward to that expression and emotion. For now, I can endure. And you will realize that I am the only one by your side. Until then, I can smile and let things slide.
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