“Why are you here? Wait! Why are your clothes so torn? And what's with all those wounds?”
“Ah, this?”
“I got them during the fight. I just haven't had time to tend to them. They're all just scrapes.”
Ain recalled what happened this afternoon.
After finishing his fight with Sevis, he had already been on the verge of collapse. But then, several old professors had suddenly approached him to ask if he was holding up.
He had only politely replied that he was fine, but they had immediately dragged him off to complete all sorts of paperwork.
Ain really wanted to complain.
Bro, my head is literally still bleeding!
“August, according to the academy regulations, Ain was already considered expelled the moment the disciplinary action was handed down. Since your Arcane Department didn't want him, are you saying we in Hermetica aren't allowed to take him in?”
“Who said the Arcane Department expelled Ain? Was there an official notice? Grimm, I didn't say anything when you poached people from our Arcane Department before, but doing it this many times is pushing it, don't you think?”
Sandwiched between the two, Ain did not dare to speak.
He was afraid that if he uttered a single word, the crossfire would be directed at him.
“Why don't we just have him major in one and minor in the other?”
In the end, a woman with long purple hair came to Ain's rescue.
Ain only remembered that her name seemed to be Loretta. Judging by the professors' attitude toward her, her status was likely quite high.
“Ain, which department do you want to major in?”
Confronted by the simultaneous questioning of the two old professors, Ain was at a loss for words.
Ultimately, he chose to double major in both departments.
He did not dare to offend either side.
Besides, even if he had to double major, he could just not show up to class.
It wasn't like there was a rule saying he had to attend every class, right?
And so, Ain spent the entire afternoon just processing paperwork until evening.
Let alone tending to his wounds, he hadn't even had time to eat.
However, to his surprise, the potion-making professor named Grimm actually planned to take him to the Molsen Holy Descent Night, an event held only once every five years.
This grand gathering assembled the top scholars from across the entire continent. Those who could set foot here were either highly renowned figures or prominent individuals who had long since achieved great success.
This left him feeling somewhat flattered and overwhelmed.
Looking at the vermilion herb sitting on the cabinet and sensing the light fragrance wafting from it, Ain could not help but remark, “What a fine medicinal herb.”
“Is it? ...My teacher from Persephone said this is a floral remedy that helps clear away impurities.”
“Oh, I see.”
At that, Ain looked at the tear stains on Lillian's face and offered her a handkerchief.
“Here.”
“Thank you...”
Lillian turned her head away, seemingly not wanting him to see her in such a disheveled state, wiping away her tears.
“When—when did you come in?”
“Shortly after Erylin left. It looks like you two had a fight?”
“...”
Seeing that Lillian did not reply, Ain took a wrapped wrap from a bag on the table and handed it to her.
“I bought this from the cafeteria. Do you want some?”
“...”
Seeing that she still remained silent, Ain took a large bite of the wrap in his hand, watching Lillian as he ate.
It was for the best if she didn't eat; he was already starving to death.
As Ain chewed on the wrap, its savory aroma filled the entire hospital room. Lillian, who had not eaten all afternoon, suddenly felt a pang of hunger.
“...Is this how you comfort people?”
“What do you mean?”
“...”
“Um... is there any more of that wrap?”
“Here, the very last one.”
Ain pulled the last wrap out of the bag and reached out to hand it to Lillian. But halfway there, his hand stopped. He met her gaze, his eyes filled with absolute sincerity.
“Can I split it in half?”
Lillian: “...”
A moment later, Lillian took her half of the wrap, took a bite, and frowned slightly.
“You didn't buy this from the shop on the first floor, did you?”
“Yeah.”
“The food from that shop isn't very good. Next time, you can buy from the one on the right side of the second floor.”
“Their wraps taste really good.”
“Really?”
To be honest, Ain could not tell what was bad about it. After all, when you were starving, everything tasted amazing.
Lillian stared at the wrap in her hand. She raised it to her lips several times, yet hesitated to take a second bite.
“I'm sorry, I don't really feel like eating anymore...”
It was not because the taste was too awful, but rather because Lillian truly had no appetite.
Memories of her past kept washing over her mind. Just thinking about those events made her feel sick to her stomach.
“No worries. It's actually better if you don't eat it.”
With that, Ain snatched the remaining half of the wrap from Lillian's hand. Holding one in each hand, he began taking alternating bites from both.
“My saliva as a witch is on that...”
Lillian had wanted to say that a witch's saliva was highly toxic, but before she could, Ain took another bite of the wrap and casually replied:
“Isn't that even better?”
Lillian: “...?”
What is this guy talking about?
Ain naturally knew what she meant. A witch's saliva was indeed highly toxic, but the Lillian in front of him had not undergone witchification yet, so how could her saliva be poisonous?
“Sorry, I was just too hungry. Why don't you take a bite of mine instead?”
“...Never mind.”
Looking at the wounds on his body, Lillian could not help but feel a pang of guilt.
“I'm sorry for dragging you into so much trouble.”
“And causing you to get so badly hurt.”
Ever since the moment she awakened her witchification, she seemed to bring nothing but disaster to others.
Just like real witches—walking sources of calamity—leaving behind nothing but endless destruction and ruin wherever they went.
Did she really have the right to live in this world?
Ain spoke up, interrupting her train of thought.
“Yeah, it's all your fault. I fought that match for you, too. While you've been hiding in this hospital room resting all day, I haven't even begun to tend to these injuries of mine.”
“I... I'm sor—”
Before she could finish, Ain cut her off. “What's the point of constantly saying sorry? Can't you offer some actual, tangible compensation?”
“Then... what kind of compensation do you want?”
Ain pretended to lower his head in deep thought. A moment later, however, a mischievous smirk played on his lips, and a glint of cunning flashed in his eyes, as if a brilliant, wicked idea had just popped into his head.
“How about this: you put on a maid outfit and follow me around all day? You'll have to address me as 'Master,' and do whatever I tell you to. What do you think?”
“Pfft—cough, cough, cough! Are—are you kidding me??”
Lillian stared at Ain in utter disbelief.
What on earth is this guy talking about?!
Rate on N.U.
