CH 118

[Waking Up]

When I open my eyes, I can see the ceiling of the orphanage that I was used to see when I was a child.

Eh? How did I…

I wonder if I had over-trained with Alfine and collapsed.

I’d be scolded by the Director and Sensei again.

While I’m vacantly thinking about such things with hazy eyes and unclear consciousness, I feel the presence of someone nearby rushing out of the room.

Someone was accompanying me, huh.

Was it Alfine, I wonder?

I wish she could go a little bit easier on me.

I couldn’t move as dexterously as her after all.

In my muddy consciousness, I curse Alfine, who I grew up together with.

After a while, I hear the sound of multiple people running, and then the door opens, before someone grabs my hand.

“Frick-sama! Are you okay!? Do you feel pain or anything!? I will cast healing magic right away! No, before that, I will transfer my magic power to you.” (Noelia)

My hand that’s being held by the girl desperately calling to me becomes warm, and that warmth gives me a relief.

Eh, am I…

This is the orphanage, right…?

At the same time as the sight of my blurry eyes returns, my consciousness becomes clear.

Huh!? N-Noelia!?

That’s right! I should’ve been fighting the monsters!

Why did I hallucinate about the time when I was a child!

Understanding that I was hallucinating about the time when I was a child in my muddy consciousness, my face reddens from embarrassment.

“Ah, no. I’m okay. Speaking of which, wasn’t I——” (Frick)

“Frick-sama got caught up in the suicide bombing of the Genocider brought by Vigo, the former butler of Alfine-sama.” (Noelia)

Noelia, holding my hand and looking worried, tells me what had happened.

“Vigo fled with Danton-sama and Philia-sama, but after that the tunnel collapsed due to the suicide bombing of the Genocider, and currently the villagers are working on restoring it with Cinzia-sama as the leader.” (Noelia)

“So we didn’t manage to rescue the Director and Sensei, huh.” (Frick)

I should immediately chase Vigo to rescue the Director and Sensei, but he didn’t seem to have the intention to kill the two hostages.

Is he going to use two as baits for luring Alfine?

But still, I can’t leave the village as is.

With the tunnel collapsed, the merchants who would bring supplies to the village would not be able to enter.

Besides, I still haven’t confirmed the damage caused by that explosion yet.

Having not fully grasped the situation yet, I ask Noelia about the current situation.

“How about the village? Is there any serious damage?” (Frick)

“Thanks to Frick-sama’s barriers, all but a few houses that were burnt down are safe. The villagers said that as long as the rubbles in the collapsed tunnel are cleaned up, they would be able to return to the same life as they had before.” (Noelia)

“I see… I’m glad. It was worth it using up my magic power to the last drop.” (Frick)

Getting a bad premonition from the light emitted by the Genocider, I used up all my magic power to deploy barriers that covered the entire village.

It seems that the impact of the explosion on the village was successfully suppressed, thanks to that.

However, it seems that the tunnel has collapsed due to the concentrated power of the explosion and the blast in the direction of the tunnel.

“Due to that, you had been unconscious for more than two days, however, do you feel a pain or anything?” (Noelia)

“Not at all. Rather, I’m full of energy. Given how well my body is, Noelia must’ve been taking care me the whole time, right?” (Frick)

Looking at Noelia’s face, which has become messy from crying her eyes out, I immediately guessed that she must’ve been taking care of me, who had lost consciousness due to running out of magic power like the time in Inbahanes.

“T-that is just the natural thing to do…” (Noelia)

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I’ve narrowly escaped death. I sure am relying too much on Noelia.” (Frick)

When I said so, her cheeks redden, and she squeezes my hand and looks down.

“…I have decided to do anything for Frick-sama, after all…” (Noelia)

Her quiet murmur reaches my ears.

The overwhelming sense of security brought about by the meaning of those words calmed my heart.

“I can be reckless because Noelia, who I trust, is by my side. I do know that I’ve been giving Noelia various troubles, though. Please forgive such a me.” (Frick)

“…No, Frick-sama is fine as you are. That is what I think.” (Noelia)

Noelia’s straightforward reply makes me look away from her and scratch my cheek because of embarrassment.

“Therefore, there is something I need to make sure to tell to Frick-sama, who puts his trust in me.” (Noelia)

Noelia, facing downward, strongly squeezes my hand that she is holding.

She’s acting kinda strange.

Did a trouble occur while I was sleeping?

The Director and Sensei being kidnapped is a big problem, but they probably wouldn’t be killed while they still have their use.

There’d be no problem as long as we rescue them in the meantime.

Seeing the clearly strange state of Noelia, my sense of security disappears, and an indescribable anxiety begins to rise in me.