Just when Lucius decided to leave to inspect the staff.
I stood next to Elia, who was sitting in a corner and constantly gagging.
“Ugh!”
“Are you okay…?”
When Elia’s moist eyes met mine, she shook her head repeatedly.
Well, if someone saw this, they’d think she was having morning sickness.
Honestly, I was starting to think that the so-called Hero was being a little rough on the Saint, but seeing Elia’s condition deteriorate, I hurriedly patted her back.
“Gah…!”
“…Lucius isn’t watching, so just relax.”
I don’t know what triggered her or if my patting helped, but soon, colorful rainbows bloomed on the floor.
…A bit dirty.
I looked at it solemnly and nodded slightly.
Well, it happens.
The reason I came to see Elia wasn’t just to help her empty her stomach.
I was here to find a way to resolve the shard lodged in Nameless’s heart.
No matter how much Elia showed this state and seemed a bit clumsy… to be blunt, she might appear a bit lacking, but Elia is a Saint.
No one can match her when it comes to healing and lifting curses.
Of course, it did hurt my pride a bit to feel like I was relying on a damned god’s help….
But what can I do?
The safety of Nameless takes precedence over my meager pride.
I handed Elia a small handkerchief and some water, which she had a long drool hanging from her.
“Just wipe your mouth and drink some water first.”
“…Thank you.”
Elia accepted the handkerchief and water with an apologetic expression and gave a polite bow while wiping her mouth.
Well, there’s nothing to apologize for…
If she’s worried about getting dirty, it’s not a problem at all. I took it out of Elia’s bag anyway.
Still, I had done something worthy of thanks, so I nodded proudly.
Once Elia had gathered herself, I draped my arm over her shoulder.
“Harang?”
Her voice was filled with confusion at my sudden action.
I gazed into her uncertain eyes and took a serious tone to set the mood for an important request.
“Elia.”
Her body twitched slightly.
“…Four?”
“I have a favor to ask.”
“F-favor?”
Elia tilted her head in confusion, and I nodded lightly while slyly pulling up one corner of my mouth.
I was smiling to increase the chances of my success with the request.
“Could you possibly take a look at Nameless’s body?”
“N-Nameless’s body?”
She seemed to think she heard incorrectly, frowning and tilting her head.
I could tell from her slightly trembling voice that she was flustered.
Well, I expected this much.
There’s no way a Saint would give a free check-up to someone unless they were quite close…
I felt a bit disappointed but could understand.
I nodded lightly in a positive manner, making a circular shape with my thumb and index finger.
Then I raised my other hand’s index finger and brought it in front of the circle.
“How much would you need?”
It was obvious that I meant how much I would need to pay for a check-up.
However, Elia seemed to interpret it differently, her face turning red as she shook her head vigorously.
“No, I…! I have someone I care for…!”
She stretched out her arm and started pushing against me.
Confused, I tilted my head and asked in a daze.
“Are you saying you won’t do it even if I pay?”
“Of course not!”
Elia nodded sharply, continuing to chastise me.
“Those kinds of things aren’t done with money…! No, more importantly, what in the world are you thinking, Harang?!”
“What do you mean I’m thinking about…? Naturally, it’s for the health of my disciple….”
I couldn’t hold back. I added quickly, and Elia’s face began to turn even redder, bordering on explosion.
“It’s inappropriate…!”
“…Inappropriate?”
Is it inappropriate for a Master to worry about their disciple’s health, or is it inappropriate to ask a Saint for such a favor?
I couldn’t understand any of Elia’s statements.
And I felt a bit hurt as well.
While we can’t say my relationship with her is good… no, in fact, I harbor feelings akin to hatred towards her…
Even so, we’ve shared some moments together, and does that mean I can’t even ask this much?
Pouting, I asked.
“Are we not even that close?”
“What does our relationship have to do with this…? Isn’t it normal for me to be the one trying to stop you…?”
It felt like our conversation wasn’t clicking somehow.
Elia must have felt the same, as she furrowed her brow in confusion, mumbling to herself for a moment before asking.
“…What exactly do you mean when you ask to look at Nameless’s body?”
Is she seriously asking such an obvious question?
“Of course, I’m asking you to give a check-up.”
Upon hearing my words, Elia’s expression twisted grotesquely, then her face turned pale.
“Th-then what was that gesture you made earlier…?”
“I was just wondering if you needed to be paid to take a look.”
Elia’s eyes widened in shock.
“…You thought that was money?”
“Then, what else could it be?”
Isn’t interpreting the circular gesture as money a universal thing?
I tilted my head in confusion, and Elia stomped her feet in embarrassment.
“I naturally…!”
“Naturally?”
“No, I mean….”
Elia kept her head down and sealed her lips tight.
Steam seemed to be rising from her head, as if she’d misconceived something embarrassing….
“Umm, I completely don’t get it.”
I just couldn’t understand.
After Elia calmed down somewhat, she spoke in a whisper.
“Harang, please call Nameless….”
“Hmm? Have you decided to check after all?”
I smiled broadly.
I had no knowledge of sickness or curses, and I was worried about being refused, but I was really relieved that a Saint like Elia was willing to check.
Elia nodded slightly.
“Yes….”
“Thank you!”
I beamed and waved my arms to call Nameless.
“Nameless!”
“Yes, Master.”
Nameless, who had been watching us with a grumpy expression, must have been rather bored, as he came rushing over at my call immediately.
I looked at Nameless and grinned widely.
“It’s going to sting a bit!”
“Wait, wh-”
Ignoring whatever Nameless was about to say, I swiftly raised my hand and struck the back of his neck.
Nameless’s body slumped, losing strength and plopping down on the floor.
“Harang?!”
I felt a tad guilty, but I really hoped he hadn’t realized that something was wrong with his health.
I know it’s selfish; I also realize it was wrong not to mention it.
But I just wanted him to live happily and positively.
With a wry smile on my face, I looked at Elia, who was in shock, and then pulled aside Nameless’s shirt collar. His solid, scarred body revealed itself.
“Take a look.”
With a stern expression and a low voice, the previous atmosphere was gone, and Elia straightened her face and nodded.
*
Light flickered in her hands.
The small pupils began to fade, leaving behind only a radiant light.
“□□□ □□ □□□□ □ □□”
A sound escaped her lips that no human could comprehend.
In this ‘end of the world,’ where there was no sky, the light came down to grant her request.
Gradually, her entire body became enveloped in light.
At this point, I couldn’t even tell if she was still here.
“□□□ □□ □□”
The light, wrapping around her like a hug, moved towards Nameless following Elia’s request.
The light flowed into Nameless’s chest.
And then.
-KEEEEYINNNG!
An ear-splitting noise echoed.
Soon, the light that had been transmitted to Nameless scattered as if chased away, or like a lost child unable to find its destination.
The light, which seemed everlasting, began to flicker unstable.
The light in Nameless’s body began to extinguish.
Likewise, the light faded, and visible to the naked eye, Elia’s brow twisted grotesquely.
“…”
The light that had fallen from above disappeared, failing to return to where it came from.
Elia bit her lip.
*
Worried that my presence might hinder her while examining Nameless, I had kept my distance just enough to only see her face.
Yet, the expression reflected in her eyes was not good.
…This is concerning.
I squinted and moved swiftly to her side.
“How is it?”
“…”
Despite my call, Elia bit her lip in frustration and didn’t say anything more.
Growing more impatient, I stepped in front of her.
“…At least say something.”
Good or bad, I needed to hear it so I could plan what to do moving forward.
If it’s good and has been resolved, that’s great.
If it’s bad and unresolved, then I just need to find a way to fix it.
I looked at Elia, conveying my hope.
Elia mumbled for a moment, then opened her mouth in a hesitant voice.
“I… I don’t know.”
With that reply, Elia slumped down and covered her face with her hands.
“It seems similar to a curse, but… something feels different….”
“…Different? In what way?”
“I’m not exactly sure what it is, but… it seems it will affect his personality more than anything else….”
I tilted my head at Elia’s words.
What does she mean by she doesn’t know? That doesn’t make sense.
Still, hasn’t she figured out quite a bit?
“But… I can’t figure out how to deal with it… I don’t know how to handle what’s in Nameless’s body….”
As Elia muttered, her breaths were ragged, I placed my hand on her shoulder to calm her down.
“Take a deep breath, and then slowly explain.”
“W-what is that thing…? It seems twisted… There’s no way that could be possible….”
Yet Elia couldn’t calm down at all.
For a while, she remained seated, mumbling to herself as she rubbed her face.
