Chapter 532

Unsteady eyes.

Tightly closed lips.

Squeezed hands.

Airan’s countenance, dimly illuminated in the dark, leaked immense distress.

“When did you last rest properly?”

“…One week ago.”

Hearing Airan’s reply, Leo exhaled a heavy breath.

He then rose to his feet and ignited the mana stone lamp illuminating a corner of the tent.

Grabbing the towel that hung nearby, Leo began drying Airan’s sodden hair.

“Oh, I can manage…”

“Just remain still.”

With an indifferent tone, Leo briskly rubbed the moisture from Airan’s locks.

Once her hair was mostly dry, Leo moved to the sleeping bag, took a seat, and questioned her.

“Are you deeply distressed about Berkhia?”

Faced with Leo’s inquiry, Airan lowered her gaze completely.

“I recognize that I must halt her actions.”

Airan murmured softly.

“Yet I am at a loss for words, completely unsure of how to stop her.”

Wrapping her arms around her own torso in a self-embracing gesture, Airan shuddered.

“Because of that, I am terrified. Terrified that she will no longer be the Berkhia I remember. Terrified that she might never wake up. Terrified that Berkhia could inflict harm upon Leo.”

For Airan, internal peace was impossible to find.

The fall of the figure she admired and aspired to emulate.

Coupled with the dread that an individual she revered might bring harm to another person she deeply respected.

The dread consuming her thoughts barred her from sleep.

Throughout the past week, she had fought to steady her mind by any means.

Yet she had been unsuccessful.

Consequently, she had sought out Leo.

Observing Airan in this state, Leo released another heavy sigh.

‘It is bound to be an agonizing ordeal.’

For Airan, this circumstance must feel utterly disheartening.

Deeming her weak would be unjust, given that the burden of the current crisis was far too overwhelming.

The predicament differed slightly from what Lunia or Chen Xia faced.

How would Chen Xia handle a scenario where she had to strike down Leo, had he been reanimated as an undead?

What if Lunia was forced to destroy Luna?

‘For Airan, it is the exact same plight.’

It was an excessive weight for Airan, who was still just a young girl, to shoulder.

Leo watched Airan in quiet contemplation.

‘What words should I offer her?’

Should he reassure her that he would defeat Berkhia if necessary, and that he would not perish?

‘Given the present circumstances, no words can offer solace.’

He could not irresponsibly promise that Berkhia would return to her true self.

For Airan was fully aware that such an outcome was practically impossible.

Apprehension erodes the spirit.

The stillness and gloom that accompanied the night undoubtedly amplified Airan’s terrors.

Even so, she could not confide these feelings to Lunia or Chen Xia.

Though they attempted to hide their distress for Airan’s benefit, both were equally plagued by dread regarding the current situation.

She could not bear to burden the two who were pushing themselves to remain strong.

Airan had attempted to endure the trial in solitude, but ultimately, crushed by her overwhelming anxiety, she turned to Leo.

The sole individual she could lean on during this crisis.

Airan, who had been shivering, lifted her gaze to meet Leo’s crimson eyes.

“Are you suffering?”

Hearing Leo’s question, Airan clenched her teeth and forced herself to gather her composure.

‘I must not lean on Leo either.’

Airan understood.

Leo did not view her merely as a prospective hero candidate.

As long as Leo remained the Great Hero.

In the days ahead, Leo would inevitably engage in a final, critical conflict against Erebus and Tartarus.

And Leo had designated Airan as a hero destined to stand upon that very battleground.

‘Therefore, I absolutely cannot behave like a vulnerable child.’

If she continuously relied on Leo whenever hardship struck, she would become nothing more than an impediment.

‘I must conquer this independently.’

Airan forced her lips into a smile.

“It was difficult, but I will put forth my utmost effort…”

“If exhaustion has overtaken you, remain here and rest.”

“What?”

“There is no requirement for you to forcefully suppress your pain and tolerate this misery.”

“B-but I cannot depend on Leo indefinitely…”

“Indeed, you cannot. However, for the moment, it is perfectly fine.”

Leo spoke without emotion.

“Assisting when the burden becomes too heavy is an adult’s responsibility. So? Would you care to hear an ancient tale you favor?”

Upon hearing this, Airan, who had been staring blankly, inadvertently let out a sudden giggle and burst into amusement.

“Leo, regardless of the situation, I am not a helpless toddler.”

“Do you wish to hear it or not?”

“I still desire to listen.”

Airan answered, her tone noticeably lighter.

Noticing the shift in Airan, Leo retrieved another spare sleeping bag from his dimensional subspace.

It was just as Airan prepared to settle into the sleeping bag.

“My~ It appears nothing untoward occurred here.”

“Eeek!”

Startled by the voice echoing from behind, Airan gasped in fright and spun around.

There stood Chen Xia, crouched low and observing Airan with narrowed, calculating eyes.

“Ch-Chen Xia. How long have you been standing there?”

“From the very beginning.”

Chen Xia offered a sugary grin.

“One can never anticipate what might transpire when a male and female share a space during the night, correct?”

“Do I strike you as that sort of individual?”

Leo clicked his tongue in disapproval, prompting Chen Xia to shake her head.

“My faith lies with Young Master Leo. It is Airan whom I suspect.”

Hearing those words, Airan’s eyes grew wide, and she questioned with unshed tears blurring her vision.

“Th-that is terribly unfair. Even if my literary preferences lean that way, I do not engage in improper conduct! Do I truly resemble a deceptive elf who would creep away to seduce Leo in the dead of night?”

“Indeed, you appear precisely like that sort of elf.”

Faced with a reply delivered without a single shred of doubt, Airan’s expression crumpled into sadness.

“May I sleep in this space as well?”

“For what reason?”

“It would present a significant issue if Airan were to ambush Young Master Leo, would it not?”

“I am n-not that sort of elf!”

With a tearful countenance, Airan seized Chen Xia and shook her frame frantically.

Observing the pair, Leo found himself laughing heartily.

“This brings back memories of former days.”

Biharu used to mock Berkhia in a very similar fashion.

Gazing upon the offspring of his former pupils, Leo indulged in reflections of days long past and began to speak.

“Shall I recount the tale of my initial encounter with Berkhia and Biharu?”

At his query, Airan and Chen Xia ceased their bickering and seated themselves before Leo.

Hours slipped away as they immersed themselves in the legends of their forebears.

The break of dawn.

The tempest of snow had ceased some time ago.

Lunia, awakening from her slumber, inhaled deeply.

‘I wonder if Airan is managing.’

As her dearest companion, Lunia was well aware that Airan was enduring a fragile state.

‘I wish to comfort her in some manner.’

Yet Lunia could not bring herself to carelessly offer solace to Airan.

Lunia held a deep, genuine reverence for the ancestors of the Rundia household.

For the predecessors who labored to transmit the blaze of the holy fire to successive generations had consistently served as a source of her immense pride.

What if such an revered figure were reanimated as a corpse puppet through the machinations of the Lich King?

She lacked the courage to even contemplate how agonizing that would be.

‘Broaching the matter thoughtlessly might only inflict a deeper wound.’

Lunia exhaled a lengthy breath and unfastened her sleeping bag.

Ziiiiip-!

After sliding the zipper down, Lunia sat upright, her expression turning bewildered.

“Airan? Chen Xia?”

The pair had departed without leaving a single trace.

As confusion clouded Lunia’s features, the murmur of voices drifted in from outside the tent structure.

“Can we not tarry a bit longer?”

‘Ah.’

Lunia, who had feared some mishap had occurred during the night, released a sigh of relief.

Furthermore, the voice of Airan that reached her ears sounded notably cheerful.

As she prepared to stand, Lunia suddenly strained her ears to catch the ongoing dialogue.

“Absolutely not. Leo requires rest as well.”

“Could we not simply share a bed with Leo?”

“I refuse. We occupied his time throughout the entire night. Young Master Leo was deprived of sleep on our account, so we must permit him to rest, if only briefly.”

“It was Leo who prevented us from sleeping. How could sleep find us when he was doing such things for our sake?”

“Hmm… That carries truth. It was undeniably a delightful period.”

Listening to the exchange taking place outside, Lunia froze entirely.

The tent flap parted, and Airan alongside Chen Xia stepped inside.

Upon catching sight of Lunia, who stood rigid with her mouth agape, Airan’s eyes expanded.

“Lunia, you have awakened early.”

“Uh, uh-huh… Airan, you appear somewhat recovered?”

“Yes! I apologize for causing you distress, Lunia.”

Beholding Airan’s contrite expression, Lunia offered a strained, awkward chuckle.

“Oh, no. It is perfectly fine. By the way… are you returning from Leo’s tent?”

“Yes. It is rather embarrassing, but Leo offered me solace through the night. Thanks to his kindness, I managed to dismiss a significant portion of my dread and unease.”

“Even though Young Master Leo was denied rest due to Airan’s infantile behavior.”

“Chen Xia was present as well.”

Airan murmured in an aggrieved tone.

Lunia’s voice, as she processed their words, commenced a rapid trembling.

“Y-y-y-you two! Are you aware of the actions you just committed?!”

“Eh? Well, spending the night with Leo… Oh, should I have invited Lunia along rather than leaving you isolated? My apologies! The thought escaped me… On the next occasion, we must certainly go together.”

As Airan displayed a remorseful face, Lunia, whose complexion flushed as vibrant a red as her tresses, began to lose her composure entirely.

“You two! You are students!”

“Lunia?”

“What in the world did you students engage in?! Leo! Regardless of how much of an adult he might be! No! His adult status is not even the core issue here! Three? Th-th-three of you?! The three of you together?! All through the night?! And next time, I am to join?!”

“Lu-Lunia? What afflicts you? P-please compose yourself!”

“Compose myself? How can you request that? The pair of you are elite students representing Seirun and Lumerne! You ought to conduct yourselves with propriety! Do you truly believe it makes sense to commit such acts and then behave as though you fail to perceive the error?”

Staring at Lunia, who glared fiercely with a crimson face, Airan spoke with a terrified look.

“W-we merely listened to Leo recount historical legends?!”

“No matter how many of those specific texts you have consumed… Huh?!”

Lunia, mid-shout, suddenly appeared thoroughly bewildered.

And a brief moment afterward.

With her complexion turning slightly pale, her shoulders began to vibrate with embarrassment.

“Ah, so those were the thoughts occupying your mind.”

Chen Xia beamed radiantly.

“Lunia, your creative mind is truly profound. I never could have envisioned you interpreting the situation in such a manner.”

“Ah, no, what I mean… I… that is to say…”

Observing a heavily perspiring Lunia, Airan finally grasped the nature of the misunderstanding, her eyes widening.

She then narrowed her gaze into a stern squint.

“Lunia.”

“M-my apologies. I mean, I just!”

“How indecent.”

“…”

Faced with that remark, Lunia dropped her head low in shame.

Lunia, whose shoulders had been trembling, suffered another outburst and lunged toward Airan.

“This is entirely due to your habit of reading so many bizarre publications!”

“How can this be deemed my fault?! It is Lunia’s own mind that is twisted!”

“Aargh! I care not! It is your doing! It is your fault!”

Watching the two elves vociferously arguing back and forth, Chen Xia offered a pleasant smile.

“Hush, Leo will overhear everything.”

At that warning, both of their voices ceased instantly.

Chen Xia maintained her sweet smile and stepped closer to Lunia.

“I am pleased the misconception has been resolved.”

“Q-quite so.”

“However, I find myself curious. To what extent did your imagination wander?”

Lunia’s shoulders commenced shaking once more.

She felt an intense urge to tug at that smirking mouth.

“Do share it with me. Won’t you?”

‘This girl truly possesses a malicious streak.’

Witnessing Chen Xia mock her with a cheerful visage, Lunia could do nothing but shield her face in utter mortification.