Chapter 70

【 Date 】

I could feel power coursing through me.

I didn’t know what kind of power it was, but it was something I’d never felt before.

If I had to compare it to something… yeah, Siri.

It felt similar to the power I’d felt when I made a contract with the Hellhound.

That sensation of forming a bond with some kind of being, and accepting its power.

‘Ugh…’

Anyway, why was I like this right now?

My consciousness was gradually sharpening.

But my eyes wouldn’t open easily.

‘What on earth happened?’

I slowly retraced my memories.

Up until just a moment ago, I had definitely…

‘…fallen near Intezer’s heart.’

I’d had a rough time there.

Intezer’s voice had been loud enough to make my ears burst, and I’d suffered a splitting headache.

On top of that, the influence of Intezer’s heart had literally been draining away my life force.

Normally, I might have died right then and there…

‘But I survived thanks to Peregrie’s power.’

I didn’t know exactly how it worked.

But Peregrie had protected me from Intezer’s curse.

That wasn’t all.

‘I… also figured out how to use Peregrie’s power.’

While resisting Intezer’s power, I somehow came to understand how to use Peregrie’s.

If someone asked me to use it right now, I was confident I could.

Anyway, after all that, I must have passed out.

‘How much time has passed?’

Since I’d been unconscious for a while, my sense of time was vague.

I wanted to open my eyes to check my surroundings, but at the moment, my body wouldn’t even let me do that.

‘Don’t rush. Think slowly. Maybe if I do this…’

There was no particular logic behind it.

It was just my instinct speaking—but I felt I needed to spread this new power of Peregrie, which seemed to be gathered around my heart, throughout my whole body.

‘I already figured out how to use Peregrie’s power, so it should work.’

I focused my mind for a moment, and soon a bluish power began to spread slowly through me.

Just as I expected, strength gradually returned to my body.

“…Mm.”

And finally, I managed to open my eyes.

But the moment I did, what I saw was…

“…Lady Lisa?”

“Hey, Gideon. You’re awake?”

A red-haired girl with an emotionless expression was the first thing I saw.

The fact that Lisa was the first person to greet me wasn’t the problem—it was her posture that caught my attention.

“Um, Lady Lisa?”

“Mm?”

“May I ask why you’re lying beside me?”

“Why? Is that not allowed?”

“It’s not that it’s not allowed, but…”

I shifted uncomfortably.

The reason I did was simple—Lisa was hugging me.

“Would you mind… letting go of me?”

“No.”

Lisa shook her head firmly.

“I’m not letting you out of my arms.”

“…Is that so?”

“You got hurt like this while I wasn’t looking for just a moment. How could I possibly let go when I was so worried?”

Lisa hugged me even tighter.

“Gideon, you’re far more precious than you think. At least to me… you’re someone I can’t be without. So please, take better care of yourself.”

“…I’ll make sure to remember that.”

“Good. Remember it well. Because if you get hurt like this again… I’ll really be angry next time.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Good. That’s very good.”

As she said that, Lisa brought her face closer to mine.

Then she leaned in toward my neck—and bit it.

It wasn’t hard.

Just a light bite that tickled my skin.

It didn’t feel like she was trying to drink my blood—more like… an affectionate gesture.

“Mm… Gideon, don’t leave me.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Mm, do that. Anyway, how’s your body? You’ve been unconscious for three hours.”

“That’s longer than I expected. As for my body… may I try sitting up?”

“Go ahead.”

Lisa released her arms and moved away from me.

Once my body was free, I tried lifting my upper body.

And I realized—

Surprisingly, I felt quite refreshed.

It didn’t feel like the body of someone who had just gone through an ordeal.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with me.”

“That’s a relief.”

I stretched and glanced around.

It was a small room, somewhat familiar.

If my memory from the game served me right, this was a small hospital located in Intezer.

Probably a single-person ward.

‘So I’ve been lying here for three hours, huh?’

I quickly went over the situation in my head.

But just as I was doing that, Lisa acted unexpectedly again.

“Lady Lisa?”

“Stay still.”

Lisa hugged me again from behind.

“I just want to stay like this a little longer.”

“Lady Lisa, if you want to drink my blood, then—”

“No, I don’t need blood. I just… want to feel your warmth.”

Lisa pressed herself closer against me.

Because of that, I could unintentionally feel Lisa’s heartbeat through my back.

Her heart was beating very fast.

And perhaps… mine was also beating a little faster than usual.

“Um, Lady Lisa?”

“Why?”

“It might sound sudden, but… how would you like our relationship to be, from now on?”

“…T-That’s…”

For the first time, Lisa was at a loss for words. She couldn’t answer right away.

I tried to turn my head to look at her face, but Lisa stopped me by pressing a hand against my cheek.

“Don’t look.”

“Pardon?”

“My face. Don’t look at it right now.”

Even though I couldn’t see her face, I could feel her heart begin to beat even faster.

“Ah, anyway, if you’re asking about our relationship… I think you’re a really good person. A good junior, and an excellent swordsman. I want us to stay close and, in the future, I want you to be… my… my…”

Lisa’s heart was pounding harder and harder.

And probably, my own heart had started to beat faster as well.

I never imagined I’d experience this kind of feeling after coming into this world.

“My, um, Gideon. If you really intend to stay with me from now on, then maybe… maybe…”

Lisa’s voice trailed off—so unlike her usual self.

But I calmly waited for her to finish.

Somewhere deep down, I was looking forward to hearing what she would say next.

Then—

“Gideon, I can hear your voice. Are you awake?”

“Instructor?”

“Ah, so you’re up.”

Luke’s voice came from beyond the door.

“I’m coming in.”

Before I could even reply, the hospital room door opened.

And Luke stepped inside.

No—he wasn’t alone.

Following behind him were Sara, and even Jason, who had said he wouldn’t be joining the school trip.

“…Looks like I interrupted a good moment.”

Luke’s gaze flickered in surprise toward Lisa, who was hugging me from behind.

But the two students behind him didn’t seem particularly shocked by our appearance.

“Yes, Instructor. You did interrupt a good moment. But more importantly, Jason, why are you here? Weren’t you supposed to return to the Academy after visiting your family estate?”

“Sara called me. She said she wanted to discuss something. So I told my family and dropped by Intezer for a bit.”

“And Sara wants you to be part of that discussion. So we came to the place where you’d most likely be.”

As Luke finished speaking, Lisa hugged me even tighter.

When I turned my head slightly, I saw the displeasure written all over her face.

“Sara, talk without me.”

“But Sister, this discussion really needs you—”

“I’m not letting go of Gideon. If you want to talk, then talk here.”

“That’s…”

“Why? Is it something you can’t talk about in front of Gideon?”

“……”

At Lisa’s question, Sara couldn’t say anything. She just looked troubled.

Seeing that, I chuckled softly, turned my body, and faced Lisa.

“Lady Lisa, please go and talk.”

“But you…”

“I’ll be waiting here.”

“…You won’t go anywhere, right?”

“I won’t.”

I smiled as I gently took Lisa’s hands that were wrapped around my waist.

“I’ll stay here and rest until you return.”

“…Don’t go anywhere. Wait for me.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Lisa nodded and finally released me, though she still looked reluctant as she stood up from the bed.

Luke, who had been watching us, let out a small laugh and asked,

“Gideon, are you feeling alright?”

“Yes, there’s no problem.”

“The healers said the same. They were surprised someone who’d been near Intezer’s heart was in such perfect condition.”

Then, glancing briefly at the back of my left hand, Luke added,

“Sara told me you used Peregrie’s power near Intezer’s heart.”

“Yes, I think… that’s right.”

“I see.”

Luke nodded with a meaningful expression, then smiled again.

“Alright. Get some rest, then.”

With that, Luke and the others left the room.

And once I was alone again…

“Woof?”

From the nearby shadows, a small Hellhound poked its head out.

“Woof! Woof woof!”

“Why? Were you worried about me too?”

“Woof!”

“Alright, alright. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

I patted Siri’s head and chuckled softly.

“And don’t worry too much. I don’t plan on dying that easily.”

At this point, even if I were to die, I’d at least want to uncover my family’s secret before I did.

But aside from that…

‘What on earth are they discussing out there?’

I glanced toward the closed door.

Sara, Lisa, Jason, and Luke.

I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of conversation such important people were having.

* * *

“Wait, Sara, hold on.”

Outside the hospital room, Luke interrupted Sara’s words with an incredulous expression.

“So, what did you just say? Say that again.”

“I said we might need to detain or restrain that Kyrgram guy and investigate him separately.”

Sara spoke with a serious expression, looking at Luke, Jason, and Lisa.

“No matter how I think about it, there’s something suspicious about that man.”

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