“I believe in you, Sairi. Didn’t we agree to travel together, to see the world together?”
“But I’m afraid…”
“Afraid of what? With me by your side, there’s nothing to fear.”
Hilvia didn’t really understand what Sairi was afraid of, but it wasn’t the bad people in the Royal Capital.
“I’m afraid I’ll go crazy again. I don’t understand this world. I feel so innocent. I’m afraid I’ll cause you trouble again. I’m afraid if I lose my mind and cause a scene, I’ll drag you down with me!”
Hilvia knew that when Sairi said “go crazy,” she meant killing those four insects, but later Sairi admitted it was just a moment of anger controlling her actions.
She reflected on it afterward and had long stopped worrying about it.
So the real concern behind Sairi’s words was causing trouble for herself. After all, Sairi usually seemed so wasteful and unpredictable in battle, with a bit of a saintly streak.
But Hilvia had never once thought Sairi was a burden or a hindrance.
On the contrary, it was because of Sairi that Hilvia felt this journey was meaningful. She was willing to defeat so many armies for Sairi, willing to unleash her Hero’s Power for her.
“No!!!”
Sairi had barely gotten the word out when Hilvia cut her off.
“You’re not a burden, and you’re definitely not a nuisance! It’s precisely because of you, Sairi, that these past few days have been genuinely joyful.”
“Because of you, even the daily errands and shopping feel fun. Because of you, resting and sleeping these days feels peaceful. Because of you, releasing the Saint Sword Hero Power fills me with real excitement!”
“But…” Sairi sobbed, clutching Hilvia’s clothes tightly in her hands, wringing them into a ball, her voice trembling.
“There’s no ‘but’!”
“Sairi, you’re not a burden. You’re my best friend! Having you here makes this journey meaningful. With you by my side, every day feels full of happiness and hope!”
“Haah…”
Without another word, Hilvia pulled Sairi into a tighter embrace, and Sairi pressed against Hilvia’s chest, making muffled sobbing sounds.
At that moment, Hilvia glanced at Autelanz, who looked utterly terrified.
From Autelanz’s perspective, Hilvia’s entire face had darkened, filled with murderous intent, her eyes glowing with a dangerous light.
“Sorry, sorry! This time it’s my fault. I’ll definitely make it up to you both later. Please forgive me this once.”
Autelanz, who could be so bold and firm before, suddenly turned meek.
Fortunately, Hilvia thought Autelanz might still try to be tough as before. If that were the case, she would really have had to chop him up and feed him to the fish.
Well, seeing this proud magician reflecting on himself, Hilvia decided to let it slide.
“Sairi, Sairi?”
Hilvia noticed Sairi’s sobbing slowed, and she started to smile. She bent down to check on Sairi and found that she had closed her eyes.
Her eyes were still red and swollen, tear tracks on her delicate face. The once lively and playful girl now looked fragile, nestled weakly in Hilvia’s arms, drifting into sleep, only softly breathing in and out.
“Heh… just sleep.”
Hilvia exhaled and wiped Sairi’s face dry with a handkerchief before helping her lean against a large tree to rest.
“How long before she wakes up?”
“Are you asking me?” Autelanz mumbled vaguely.
“I’m not asking you! Doesn’t everyone know who caused this?”
Hilvia’s tone was sharp, but she kept her voice low to avoid waking Sairi.
“Don’t worry. She was just too emotional earlier. She’ll wake up after a short rest.”
“Good. If she doesn’t wake up, you’re going straight to hell to feed the fish!”
“Calm down, Miss Hilvia. She’ll definitely wake up.”
Autelanz’s arrogance had completely vanished. He genuinely felt the murderous aura and realized his life was truly in danger. Hilvia was a human Yongzhe; there was no way he could beat her.
Now, Autelanz sincerely hoped Sairi would wake soon, or else with Hilvia’s tone, he might really get cut to pieces!
Miss Caili, please wake up quickly!!!
Half an hour had passed since Sairi fell asleep, but there was still no sign of waking. Hilvia couldn’t bear to wake her, and Autelanz didn’t dare.
Autelanz slipped his hand into his sleeve and flicked it out. The pocket watch reappeared, not for magic but simply to check the time.
“It’s already noon, Miss Hilvia. Looks like we should prepare lunch.”
“What did you say?”
Hilvia was already boiling with anger. Autelanz had made Sairi cry, and now he was acting like nothing happened, having the nerve to talk about eating.
“I said, given the time, we should eat lunch.”
Unfortunately, Autelanz didn’t catch Hilvia’s tone.
“Aren’t you a highly skilled magician? Why not just conjure some food?”
“That’s just some minor reserves. After all, we’re magicians; we can’t conjure food from nothing.”
Useless, Hilvia thought to herself, labeling Autelanz as some weird artist chasing after absurdities.
“Fine, fine. Let’s try hunting in the nearby forest.”
Actually, Sairi and Hilvia had brought plenty of food and water when they left.
But since Sairi had passed out, all their supplies were still inside her mysterious Five-pointed Star Hairclip, inaccessible now. So hunting was their only option.
A missed meal wouldn’t be a big deal, but considering Autelanz’s pride, if he refused lunch, Sairi might end up describing him in a way that’d cause more trouble. Best not to add to the mess.
“Hunting?”
“Yes, hunting. And you’re the one going!”
“Me? What about you, Miss Hilvia?”
“I want to stay with Sairi. Bringing her along would slow us down, and leaving her alone here makes me uneasy.”
“Ah~ a rare chance to fight alongside the Yongzhe, to witness the Hero’s Power.”
“Oh? So you have another motive?”
Hearing that, Hilvia immediately grew cautious.
“No, no, no. My goal has always been clear—to tour the Bloodspirit Empire. Meeting you two was an unexpected coincidence.”
“You’d better be telling the truth.”
“Absolutely. I won’t disclose any information about you, especially to the Royal Capital. I know Miss Hilvia strongly dislikes them.”
“Good. And no more acting on your own with Sairi. Or else you’ll regret it.”
“Understood. Then Miss Hilvia, please take care of Miss Sairi. I’ll go hunting and be back soon.”
“Alright, be careful out there.”
“Appreciate your concern.”
Autelanz rose and gracefully entered the nearby forest. Now only Sairi remained with Hilvia, and even she didn’t know when Sairi would wake.
But Hilvia’s mind kept replaying what had just happened.
Though she verbally resisted Autelanz’s behavior, hearing Sairi’s heartfelt words left Hilvia momentarily at a loss.
Seeing the once cheerful, gluttonous, playful Sairi show such expressions and cry like that, her heart twisted with pain.
Yet hearing Sairi’s words brought a different feeling.
Normally, Sairi was reserved and measured, never speaking so openly or blushing like that. But just now, she had poured out the feelings she kept locked inside.
Hilvia didn’t even realize she had become so important to Sairi.
So what did Hilvia herself feel toward Sairi?
From the first day they met, seeing Sairi reminded Hilvia of a friend who had already left. But Hilvia had always told herself that Sairi was Sairi, not a replacement. No substitute nonsense.
But stories are full of drama. If Sairi were just a stranger, Hilvia wouldn’t have brought her along or traveled with her.
Yet she did.
Hilvia admitted she brought Sairi along because she saw the shadow of that person in her.
But… Sairi was not her. Hilvia had to see Sairi for who she truly was and not put her in the position of a substitute.
Thinking this, Hilvia grew furious, ashamed of her own childish thoughts.
Because Sairi was one of a kind.
Burning with anger, Hilvia punched the tree trunk hard, making a deep dent as she gasped heavily.
“Sairi is unique. She is not anyone’s substitute.”
Hilvia spoke this truth from her heart. Unfortunately, Sairi did not hear it. Perhaps it was just Hilvia talking to herself.
Hilvia pressed her hand over her heart. The heartbeat was strong and lively.
She was certain now—the most important thing was Sairi’s safety.
Just as Hilvia was self-reproaching, Sairi finally stirred.
More precisely, Hilvia’s punch to the tree had somehow roused her.
Sairi’s eyes fluttered open, still glistening with tears.
“Sairi, you’re awake? How do you feel?”
“Uh… Hilvia, sister, what… what happened to me?”
“… You were just very tired and slept for a while.”
“Slept for a while?”
“Yes, about an hour. Autelanz and I were very worried about you.”
Sairi rubbed her eyes and felt reassured seeing Hilvia.
“Did anything happen just now? Oh, right, what did Autelanz go to do?”
“Nothing much. He went hunting. You slept until noon. We planned to use your hairclip to sort out lunch when you woke up, but Autelanz is a bit impatient and decided to go hunt in the deep forest himself.”
Looks like Sairi didn’t remember what happened earlier or her outpouring of emotion.
“I see… I’m sorry, Hilvia, for causing trouble. Was everything okay?”
“It’s nothing. We just weren’t careful enough to consider your condition.”
“Also, is it okay for Mr. Autelanz to go hunting alone?”
Before Hilvia could finish, Autelanz’s voice came from afar.
“Of course, I’m already back with the prey.”
Sairi and Hilvia looked over to see Autelanz strolling back easily, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a rope tied to two wild rabbits. Not a speck of blood or dust was on him.
“Didn’t expect you to be so quick.”
“That’s a given. With our great magician’s skills, hunting a few animals is nothing.”