Chapter 8: Is This Right? That Can’t Be Right, Can It?

[It’s right here.]

Laurence could sense that near the center of the Ruins, by the Broken Stone Altar, there were monsters tainted by the power of Disaster, also known as Corrupted God’s Artifacts.

He led Aurelia to a relatively open spot, their backs against a broken wall, and spoke with his usual calm tone.

“Rest here for a while. Keep an eye on the wind and any movement.”

“Huff… Thank you, Captain…”

Aurelia leaned against the broken wall, completely exhausted, collapsing onto the ground and struggling for breath. She didn’t care that she was only wearing cropped pants, or whether the grass might scratch her legs—she simply plopped herself down.

[This damned redhead… Doesn’t he know how to show a bit of pity for a delicate beauty? At the very least, I look like a first-rate stunner right now! When we get back, I’ll make you a plate of stir-fried ginger potato shreds, and choke you with it!]

But before she could catch her breath, the grass beside her suddenly rustled. Laurence instantly took notice of the disturbance.

[They’re here.]

With a thought, he didn’t act right away, instead pretending to be entangled by another wolf-shaped Corrupted God’s Artifact that lunged at him from the side, momentarily removing himself from Aurelia’s immediate rescue range.

“Eh? No, Captain! I can’t hold out!”

Aurelia watched as several Corrupted God’s Artifacts, their eyes glowing with muddled red light, quickly closed in on her from the shadows. Panicked, she fumbled to raise her Shield.

But because she was weak and frightened, the Shield slipped from her grasp and fell to the ground with a loud “clang.”

[Damn it! How could I make the kind of dumb mistake that only horror movie protagonists make?! I’m doomed, I’m doomed, I’m doomed!]

Her mind went blank as she instinctively shrank back, grabbing at the long handle of something from her Backpack and holding it up in front of her.

One of the Corrupted God’s Artifacts seized the opportunity, growling as it pounced, and slammed into the bottom of a Frying Pan with a resounding “dong!”

[She actually wants to fight off a Corrupted God’s Artifact with a Frying Pan? Should I say, that’s just like Liya… No, no, what am I thinking about at a time like this!]

Laurence saw this and shook his head, gripping the wolf-shaped monster by the throat as he continued to watch Aurelia’s situation.

The second Corrupted God’s Artifact quickly closed in, its sharp claws laced with Disaster energy tearing into the unprotected, slender leg of the girl.

“Hiss—!”

She gasped sharply as warm liquid spurted from her wound, splattering onto the muddy ground.

At the same time, this pure but extremely weak strand of Disaster power jolted her half-conscious mind awake.

Just as the filthy claws clamped tightly and prepared to seize the chance to rip apart her leg—

“Get away!” A low, restrained shout exploded like thunder.

Laurence, who appeared to be entangled with the wolf-shaped monster, suddenly blurred. With a speed far greater than he’d shown before, he tore through the air, his sword light pouring forth like a waterfall, striking faster than sight.

“Splurt!”

The two Corrupted God’s Artifacts lunging for Aurelia didn’t even see their attacker before, in a flash of blazing, violent blood energy, they were reduced to bloody mist, not even uttering a scream.

The wolf-shaped monster fighting Laurence was also cleaved in two by a sharp sword aura that followed closely behind, falling to the ground as a pile of rotting flesh.

As the Corrupted God’s Artifacts were swiftly dealt with, Laurence knelt on one knee before Aurelia, his expression frighteningly dark.

He grabbed her wounded leg, his movements almost rough in their speed. But when he touched the wound, his fingers paused ever so slightly, as if beyond his control.

“Captain, you’re grabbing too hard… it hurts…!”

Even though she protested and whimpered in pain, Laurence instinctively ignored her voice. [She really is hurt…]

The hideous wound was split open, its edges tinged with ominous dark red, with wisps of Disaster energy trying to invade.

[No defenses, no mutation, just pure physical and energy trauma…]

『Hmph, mere ants dare to harm my vessel… Yet such a meager amount of Disaster power, it’s practically a great boon…』

『Shut up! Are you trying to get us killed?! The Captain’s right here! Let him handle it!』

Aurelia forcefully suppressed the restless “Guest” in her mind. At the same time, because of the burning pain in her leg and Laurence’s grim face, tears welled up in her eyes almost instantly.

“C-captain… it hurts…”

Her voice came again, weak and teary, like a needle that stabbed into Laurence’s heart the moment he came back to his senses.

He jerked his head up, gaze shifting from the wound to Aurelia’s red eyes, brimming with tears, pain, and grievance.

There was no calculation in those eyes, no pretense—just genuine, uncontrollable pain and silent reproach for his roughness.

[What am I doing?] A voice exploded in his mind.

The frustration from the deviation in his plans was instantly drowned out by an even stronger surge of guilt.

[But… No, how could that be?! She… is this right??]

A cold voice immediately followed, trying to suppress this wavering.

[Maybe it’s a ruse, a cleverer disguise! She knows my nature well, so she feigns weakness to gain sympathy, to make me drop my guard!]

The horrors of his previous life tightened around his heart like icy shackles, smothering the guilt he’d just felt.

“Sorry, I hurt you.” He spoke softly, his voice still hoarse, but his hands moved much gentler and slower.

He no longer pressed down harshly but carefully cleaned the blood around the wound, then took out some Potion Powder and meticulously sprinkled it on the ugly gash.

As the powder touched the corrupted flesh and caused a sting, Aurelia couldn’t help but gasp again, her body twitching uncontrollably.

[Hiss! Damn redhead! If I could beat you right now, I’d knock your teeth out! And I curse you to never get married in your whole life!]

“Bear with it, it’ll be over soon.” Laurence’s voice dropped even lower.

He skillfully wrapped her leg with a clean Bandage, his movements precise and gentle, doing his best not to hurt her again.

[Deal with the wound first. As for the test… I’ll do it after we get back.]

Once he finished, he looked at Aurelia’s tearful, sniffling face—the cold mask he tried to keep was almost undone by the surge of emotion inside him.

He looked away, crouched with his back to her. “Get on.”

“Oh…”

Aurelia hesitated, her leg still burning with pain, but finally climbed gingerly onto his broad back.

Laurence rose steadily, feeling the light weight and the slight, pain-induced tremble on his back.

This vulnerability was so real—so different from the figure in his memories who laughed maniacally amid Remnants.

[If it’s an act, it’s far too convincing…] He walked steadily back, deliberately slowing his pace and avoiding rough ground.

[But… what if…?]

The scene of his fallen comrades flashed through his mind again, making his heart tighten as he forcibly suppressed any soft feelings.

[Not enough… I need to test her again…]

And so, the journey back passed in a heavy silence.

Aurelia, aching and exhausted and still shaken, drifted off into a doze on his back, her head bobbing up and down.

Her warm breath occasionally brushed Laurence’s neck, her pale lips just inches from his skin.

[She actually fell asleep… How can her heart be so calm?]

Feeling her relax, Laurence’s body only grew stiffer. He even turned his head slightly to avoid the risk of her accidentally kissing his neck.

[Completely defenseless, or… is she sure I won’t hurt her?] He frowned again, glancing back at Aurelia.

[Maybe… Liya really is different from her last life?]

With that uncertain thought, Laurence carried her back to Base, by which time dusk had already painted the sky.

Vera and a few team members were anxiously watching by the door. When they saw Laurence return carrying Aurelia, her leg wrapped in Bandages and face pale, they rushed over.

“Liya! What happened?!” Vera’s face changed, rushing forward to check.

“Ran into a few Corrupted God’s Artifacts. She… couldn’t dodge.” Laurence spoke concisely, his tone openly and deliberately apologetic.

He carefully set Aurelia down, handing her to Vera’s support, then looked to the others.

“Captain, this…” Vera looked at Laurence, her eyes full of disapproval and doubt.

She wasn’t blaming the Captain for poor protection, but rather felt it was unwise to bring a helpless Liya to such a place in the first place.

Laurence avoided her gaze and turned to the other members, his voice low. “It was my mistake. I underestimated the risk and failed to protect my teammate in time. Sorry.”

He bowed his head slightly, making it difficult for the already uneasy members to blame him further.

Only Vera sensed that the Captain’s mood was more than just guilt—there seemed to be something else, harder to describe.

“Alright, let’s get Liya inside to rest! Iris, bring some medicine and Bandages! Eran, boil some water!” Vera commanded, carefully helping the still-dazed Aurelia inside.

***

At dinner, the atmosphere at the table was heavy.

After waking up, Aurelia refused to stay in bed. With Vera’s help, she managed to finish cooking dinner for everyone, but was then forced to sit at the table.

In front of her was the Calming Herb Porridge that Vera had specially made for her—a rare dish of hers that was actually edible.

Aurelia obediently sipped at the porridge, her face still pale.

Every time she hissed softly from the pain in her leg, it drew concerned looks from everyone—except…

[What’s up with this redhead lately? Did I do something wrong? Why’s he giving me the cold shoulder like this? And dragging me out on missions for no reason! Now look, I have to hobble around on a cane—damn redhead!]

As she sipped her porridge, Aurelia kept sneaking glances at the silent Laurence at the head of the table.

No matter how tough she acted inside, she couldn’t help feeling a sting from his coldness.

Laurence barely touched his food, only occasionally picking up his cup, his eyes cast down as if lost in deep thought, never once looking at her.

Being deliberately ignored like this hurt even more than her wounded leg.

[I’m the one who got hurt, so why does he look more aggrieved than me? Which of us is the delicate little chef, huh? Damn redhead! If we were in my old world, I’d let you taste my iron fist! I’d knock out your two front teeth with one punch!]

Laurence could feel Aurelia’s aggrieved and confused gaze, making him more uneasy, yet he forced himself to remain calm and distant.

He resisted responding to her gaze, focusing instead on his plate—but he had no appetite at all.

The other team members tried to lighten the mood with small talk, but Laurence’s unusual silence gradually stilled their conversation.

An awkward tension hung in the air, broken only by Aurelia’s occasional pained sounds, prompting more words of concern.

After dinner, as everyone cleared the table, they all looked worriedly at Aurelia, who was being forced to sip warm water by Vera.

Some wanted to help her back to her room, others wanted to keep her company, but Vera stopped them all.

“Alright, alright, stop crowding. Go train or rest. I’ll watch over Liya.”

Vera waved her hand, leaving no room for argument.

“Too many people will just keep Liya from resting. Tomorrow morning I’ll get someone from the Church to come heal her. I’ll cover the cost.”

Seeing this, the team could only scatter, but not before reminding Aurelia to take care of herself.

Aurelia thanked them all, but couldn’t help glancing at the tall, silent figure who was the first to leave the dining room.

[Leaving just like that? Not even a single word of concern? Fine, fine, damn redhead! From now on, you can eat leftovers for every meal!]

『Your retaliation against the Brave… is to make him eat some leftovers?』

『None of your business! I want to! Don’t start with your theories, or I’ll rip you out and strangle you!』

『Hmph, I am a bodiless soul. What strangling is there? But you, weak and feeble as a candle in the wind. In my prime, I could erase you with a single breath.』

『You old geezer, trying to show off? Shut up!』

***

Meanwhile, elsewhere—

Laurence didn’t return to his room but headed straight for the small Training Ground behind the Base.

Night deepened, the moonlight coldly bathing the ground.

He opened his hand; the dull Magic Crystal taken from the wolf-shaped Corrupted God’s Artifact glimmered with ominous light under the moon, wisps of foul aura coiling around it.

He clenched it tightly. The cold touch and the Disaster-kindred energy within helped settle his turbulent thoughts.

[I must test her again.] He told himself, golden eyes shining with determination in the night.

[At the closest range, when she’s at her most unguarded. If she’s really a Disaster, there’s no way she won’t react to a kindred power. And if she’s not…] He dared not finish the thought.

That possibility was far more terrifying—and, to his shame, hopeful—than facing any enemy.

[Tonight, as soon as she’s asleep, I’ll act.] He made his decision, closing his fist around the Magic Crystal.

Then, instead of returning to his room, he silently leaped onto the roof of the Main Building.

After surveying the area, he found a spot in the shadows where he could overlook the courtyard and just barely see Aurelia’s window, and settled in to wait patiently for the darkest hour of night to arrive.