Chapter 216

EP.216 The Sprouting Seed of Doubt #2

Lying on the recovery room bed, I looked at Adelle, who had buried her face in my chest.

She had been crying nonstop from the Grand Canyon until we arrived at the lab after seeing Sylvia’s condition.

Now, exhausted from crying, she had closed her swollen eyes and was sound asleep.

“Every time Adelle cries, I feel solemn. I’ve seen it so many times… I always felt sorry, even when I hadn’t done anything wrong,” Sylvia, who was lying on the adjacent bed after finishing her treatment, said.

I quietly agreed.

“Right. She cries so sadly.”

“Right? But why is there no one in the lab?”

“Dr. Cash went to France… Sehwa and Yuria probably went home to rest. How’s your body?”

“It’s fine. The wounds don’t hurt anymore… Honestly, I underestimated medical devices, but they far exceeded my expectations. How about you?”

“I’m the same as you, Sylvia. The wounds are all healed, no scars…”

While we were chatting, Adelle tossed and turned, kicking the blanket and placing one leg on my abdomen.

It was an adorable squirm. Enough to make me laugh involuntarily.

I grabbed the falling blanket and covered Adelle, then looked at Sylvia.

“Aren’t you upset?”

“About what?”

“That Adelle came to me instead of you.”

“What are you talking about…? She was going to come to me, but you forcibly moved her.”

“What kind of conspiracy theory is that? Adelle clearly came to me voluntarily. Without any hesitation.”

“No, she didn’t.”

“Yes, she did.”

Arguing childishly, we both burst into small laughs and then fell silent.

Sylvia, who was smiling contentedly, unconsciously touched the back of her neck.

It seemed the hickey I gave her last time was still there… The scar remained.

Because we didn’t treat it.

So, behave well so it doesn’t get discovered. Keep it covered with long hair until it fades.

A woman’s intuition about men is terrifying, so you’ll have to suffer for a few days to hide it.

“Jihyuk.”

Sylvia called me in an embarrassed tone.

I, who was gently stroking Adelle’s chubby cheeks, responded.

“Yes?”

“Are you… going to charge it?”

“What? Adelle’s device?”

“Yeah…”

“Of course. She must have used a lot of energy annihilating the evil energy and demons in the Grand Canyon. But surely you’re not going to meddle in our relationship again…”

“I have no such intention… Just tell me how you’re going to charge it.”

Sylvia had experienced something akin to an orgasm for the first time.

So, she must be curious. How intimate is Adelle’s touch, and what does it feel like?

But even though our relationship has become more comfortable, isn’t it rude to blatantly ask about such private matters between a man and a woman?

With a bewildered expression, I shot back at Sylvia.

“Do you think I’d tell you? Why are you asking such sensitive questions?”

“I-I was just curious… If you don’t want to tell me, forget it. Let’s be quiet and rest. You’ll wake Adelle.”

“Okay.”

I carefully tidied Adelle’s disheveled blonde hair.

Then, she curled up, muttered in her sleep, and clung even closer to me.

Sylvia, who was watching us with a strange look, muttered.

“…It’s sickening.”

Your emotional expression is too clumsy.

If you’re jealous, just say you’re jealous.

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After returning to Uijeongbu, Adelle didn’t want to be apart from Sylvia for even a moment.

She wanted to be with her no matter what she was doing, and it was the same now.

She was lying on Sylvia’s lap, watching TV and fiddling with her phone.

Sylvia knew Adelle was texting Jihyuk.

Something felt off. Jihyuk was on her mind.

From the hardships they endured together in the Grand Canyon, to Adelle driving away the demons and crying over her and Jihyuk’s conditions, to the sweet moments the two shared in the recovery room… It all flashed before her eyes.

And… the memory of the pleasure she felt came back so vividly that her face turned red.

Pretending to watch TV while glancing at Adelle, she called her to shake off the unsettling feelings.

“Adelle.”

“Yes?”

Seeing Adelle’s beaming face after putting her phone down made Sylvia feel guilty.

Why did she ask for that experiment? What was it for?

If nothing had happened with Jihyuk, this situation wouldn’t be so uncomfortable… She felt like such a fool.

Hiding an awkward smile, Sylvia spoke.

“You mentioned on the way back that you met Sehwa and Yuria for a quick beer.”

“Right.”

“How was Yuria? She’s a good friend, right?”

“Her personality is similar to yours, so I really liked her. Sehwa was still the best. The remaining hero must have a good personality too, right?”

The remaining hero… The Beast Slayer who uses a whip. No idea where she is or what she’s doing.

“Probably.”

“Dr. Cash, Sehwa, Yuria, and you, Sylvia… I’m so lucky to have such great colleagues by my side. And…”

Adelle trailed off.

Sylvia could easily guess whose name would come out of Adelle’s mouth.

“Jihyuk?”

“Yes! I didn’t really understand love before meeting Jihyuk. But now I definitely do.”

“I see…”

“I hope you feel this emotion soon too. I’d love to discuss it with you.”

“I… well… my device hasn’t even been made yet, so I’ll think about it slowly…”

After finishing her sentence, Sylvia unconsciously touched the back of her neck.

Adelle, seeing this, tilted her head.

“Sis, why do you keep touching the back of your neck?”

“Huh? Did I?”

“Yeah, you were touching it when Jihyuk was driving us back… Is the wound not fully healed?”

Come to think of it, Jihyuk didn’t treat the back of her neck…

Is he trying to play a trick on her?

No, Jihyuk is mischievous but not enough to pull such a prank. He must have been too tired and made a mistake.

Tomorrow, she’ll ask Jihyuk how to use the medical device and remove it herself.

Finishing her thoughts, Sylvia smiled softly.

“The wound is healed. I’m just tired…”

“Ah…”

“Can I go to bed? I’m sleepy.”

Trying to act nonchalant, Sylvia stretched her body.

Adelle lifted her head from Sylvia’s lap and slowly sat up.

“Shall we sleep together for old times’ sake?”

“No. You’re going to chat with Jihyuk. The light might keep me awake.”

“Is that so…? Okay. Are you not going to eat?”

“Nah. I’ll fix something when I wake up. I’m going in now?”

Sylvia got up, ruffled Adelle’s hair, and quickly went into her room.

Adelle was very worried about Sylvia.

She kept avoiding eye contact, and though she usually tied her hair at home, she left it down…

She just looked it up online, and it said when someone can’t keep their eyes still, they’re uncomfortable or anxious.

The ordeal in the Grand Canyon must have been tougher than she thought.

Playing with the fox necklace around her neck while texting Jihyuk, Adelle thought Sylvia had fallen asleep and picked up a citrus-scented candle.

She wanted to place it in Sylvia’s room.

Lighting the candle, Adelle moved silently, carefully opening Sylvia’s door.

The door didn’t even creak. Perfect stealth.

Sylvia was lying on her side, sleeping like a log.

Thinking she should buy a chocolate mousse cake for Sylvia to eat when she woke up, Adelle placed the candle on the nightstand.

As she was about to leave, she glanced at the back of Sylvia’s neck.

Her light red hair flowing down to her back, covering her neck.

She wondered why Sylvia kept touching it. It was a spot she usually didn’t touch, but today she’d done it over ten times.

Deep in thought, Adelle tiptoed closer to Sylvia.

Sylvia’s hair was pinned under her waist, so if she tossed, it would pull and hurt. Adelle needed to free it.

Making excuses in her mind, Adelle reached out.

Just as her hand was about to touch Sylvia’s flowing hair,

“Adelle.”

Sylvia, who Adelle thought was asleep, called out in a low voice.

“Ah!”

Startled, Adelle fell back, landing on her butt.

Despite the pain, she quickly got up and asked.

“Ah, you’re still awake…?”

“Yeah.”

“Why…?”

“I was trying to sleep. What are you doing?”

Sylvia asked without turning around.

The atmosphere felt scary.

“I… I brought a citrus candle. I thought it would be refreshing when you woke up…”

“Really? Thanks. It does smell nice… Is it grapefruit?”

“Yes…”

“Why were you touching my hair?”

It felt like an interrogation.

Nervous, Adelle blurted out her excuse.

“Well… your hair looked uncomfortable… I wanted to fix it…”

At that, Sylvia turned to face Adelle directly.

“Is that all?”

“Actually… you kept touching the back of your neck… I was curious… I wanted to check…”

“My neck… It’s really nothing… If you want to see, you can. Or should I show you?”

Sylvia’s bold gamble worked.

“Ah, no… It’s okay. My curiosity is all gone…”

“By the way, I was about to fall asleep, but you woke me up.”

“Sorry…”

Sylvia was acting really strange today.

Touching each other’s hair was something they often did.

But look at Sylvia’s eyes now. They’re as sharp as a villain in a horror movie.

She couldn’t be angry just because her sleep was disturbed…

Feeling the pressure, Adelle unconsciously stepped back.

“I’ll go now…”

“Lie down next to me.”

“Huh? No… I have things to do…”

“Sleep with me? Lie down quickly.”

“I, I’m going to turn the brightness and volume to max and watch a three-hour video… You said the phone light would keep you awake, but with noise too, could you sleep properly? I don’t think so…”

Adelle’s innocent avoidance made Sylvia’s lips curl up.

“Aren’t you overdoing it?”

Her demeanor softened.

Relieved, Adelle sighed deeply.

Then she continued.

“Can I go back…?”

“No.”

“…. Then, shall I stay here…? Just for three minutes… Not more…”

“Just kidding. You can go.”

“Okay…”

Adelle hurriedly tried to leave Sylvia’s room.

But,

“Adelle.”

Sylvia called her in that same voice, making her stop abruptly.

“Did you call me…?”

“You’re like a little sister to me. You know that, right?”

“I know…”

“I’d give my life for you.”

Why the sudden confession? The timing was suspicious.

But it was still nice to hear.

Feeling less scared, Adelle replied.

“I feel the same. But please don’t say such scary things.”

“About giving my life?”

“Yes…”

“Okay. I’ll restrain myself in the future. I’m really going to sleep now?”

“Goodnight…”

Adelle bowed her head and went back to her room, flopping onto her bed.

Her legs, no, her whole body felt drained.

Why did Sylvia’s demeanor change so much?

Was she still sensitive from the immense hardship? Maybe she used up most of her Aiter energy and is feeling uneasy.

I hope it’s temporary… I should ask Jihyuk tomorrow.

What caused Sylvia to become like this.

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