Chapter 52: Critical Moment

The two of them didn’t know how long they had remained in that state.

“Ahem.”

Duoluolisi coughed lightly, breaking the awkward atmosphere.

She felt that she had recovered enough to stand up.

“Dailina, I’m much better now. Let me get up.”

“Okay.”

Dailina nodded in response, reluctantly letting go of the hands cradling her.

Duoluolisi pushed herself upright, rubbing her sore shoulders.

Her silver hair slipped off Dailina’s legs, taking away the last trace of warmth that lingered there.

Dailina lay on the ground for several seconds, her brow slightly furrowed.

Her legs were so numb.

She tried moving her legs first, and a tingling sensation shot from her thighs straight to her toes, making her gasp involuntarily.

“Ugh… looks like it’s almost dawn.”

Duoluolisi glanced up at the sky.

The night was fading, and the sky was already beginning to grow faintly light.

“We should go.”

As she spoke, she extended her right hand to Dailina.

Dailina took her hand and stood up.

Her legs were still numb, making her unsteady.

Duoluolisi supported her for a while before she could barely stand.

“Are your legs okay?”

Duoluolisi asked with concern.

“I’m fine, just a little numb.”

Dailina let go of Duoluolisi’s hand and tried taking a couple of steps.

Thankfully, she didn’t buckle or fall.

Duoluolisi stared at her still-trembling legs and understood perfectly that giving someone a lap pillow was never an easy task.

The person lying down might be comfortable, but the one offering the pillow paid the price.

“Sorry for lying on your legs for so long. That must have been tough.”

“It’s okay.”

Dailina shook her head.

“Duoluolisi saved me. Lying there a bit is no problem.”

‘Actually… a little longer would have been fine.’

She silently added in her mind.

Earlier, watching Duoluolisi get up from her lap, she had felt an inexplicable sense of loss.

But… why did she feel like she had forgotten something important?

The two walked side by side on the road back to the village.

The sky had brightened considerably, and the woods were no longer shrouded in darkness.

After walking for a while, Dailina suddenly stopped.

Sensing that Dailina had halted beside her, Duoluolisi turned back to ask what was wrong.

But she saw Dailina standing still, her expression shifting from exhaustion to shock, and then from shock to panic.

“Oh no!”

“I forgot about Xi Ya!”

Dailina exclaimed.

She had come out at night to look for Xi Ya, but after running into Duoluolisi, she had completely forgotten.

Duoluolisi was stunned by her shout.

She had been wondering why Dailina never mentioned Xi Ya—turns out she really did forget him?

“No, no! I have to go find Xi Ya!”

Dailina turned to run back, but Duoluolisi was quick.

She grabbed her wrist.

“Wait, where are you going to look?”

“I’m going to…”

Dailina stopped, slowly lowering her other hand.

“I don’t know where to look either… Oh, right, the Blood Fowl! Xi Ya must have encountered the Blood Fowl!”

“Blood Fowl? I did see a flock of them when I came over….”

“Then did you see Xi Ya?”

Dailina asked urgently.

“Are you talking about that black-haired male student who was with you before? What happened to him?”

“Yes, it’s him! Xi Ya and I came here for an Academy commission. We investigated here yesterday afternoon and planned to come back today to continue, but when I woke up at night, he was gone. I thought that vampire might have captured him.”

“I didn’t see him. I didn’t run into anyone else on my way. Those Blood Fowl were all coming for me.”

Duoluolisi lied without changing her expression.

No, that wasn’t a lie—she had been alone all night last night and hadn’t seen anyone else.

What she said was correct.

“Huh? But why did that vampire say he was surrounded by Blood Fowl?”

“He probably said that to trick you, to make you panic and lose your composure. That way, it would be easier for him to capture you.”

Duoluolisi explained calmly.

“Is that so… then where did Xi Ya go?”

“Maybe he already went back? This forest is so eerie—no one would want to stay here long. Anyway, I wandered around all night and didn’t see any trace of anyone else.”

Duoluolisi’s tone softened.

“You go back first. Maybe you’ll see him when you return. If not, you can bring others out to look.”

Dailina hesitated for a few seconds, then finally nodded.

“Alright.”

The two walked out of the woods together, crossed the fields, and reached the village entrance.

The sky had brightened, and the village roosters had begun to crow.

“We’re at the village. I’ll be going now.”

“Huh? Aren’t you going to rest in the village, Duoluolisi?”

“No.”

Duoluolisi shook her head.

“But your whole body is covered in wounds, and your uniform is torn…”

Dailina looked at her with concern.

Hearing this, Duoluolisi looked down and noticed her uniform was torn in several places, her white stockings had holes, and there were traces of dried blood.

‘Hmm… why do I feel like I look a bit… provocative like this?’

No, no.

This wasn’t the time to think about that.

She needed to get away from Dailina quickly and find a chance to slip back into her room.

“I’m in a hurry to submit my commission this time as well. Dealing with that vampire took too long. If I don’t leave now, I might not make it.”

Duoluolisi cleared her throat and used the commission excuse again.

“Alright then. Take care on the road, Duoluolisi.”

Although Dailina was still worried, she couldn’t insist further.

“Mm.”

Duoluolisi turned and left.

She could feel Dailina’s gaze following her from behind, but she didn’t look back.

Instead, she quickened her pace.

Once she reached a corner and confirmed that Dailina could no longer see her, she ducked into the roadside bushes.

She had to get inside before Dailina.

She entered the village from the other side, avoiding the main road.

Crouching low, she moved swiftly through the narrow paths between farmhouses, trying not to make a sound.

Along the way, she occasionally glanced at the main road to confirm Dailina’s position.

Almost there.

Dailina was still on the road, but also close to the residence.

She would make it.

Duoluolisi sped up, circling around to the back of the house.

She managed to reach the window of her room just before Dailina entered the building.

After making sure no one was around, she whispered, “Belmont,” and transformed back into Xi Ya.

Huh?

Why was the window open?

No time to think.

He had to get inside—Dailina had already entered the yard!

Without hesitation, Xi Ya grabbed the windowsill, flipped inside, then quickly shut the window, kicked off his shoes, and in one swift motion, jumped onto the bed and pulled the covers over himself.

The next second, Dailina’s footsteps sounded at the door.