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The joy of finding Wendy was short-lived, as I couldn’t help but be horrified. She, in her desperate state, was trying to take down the monstrous beasts with her. Wendy’s death would mean my downfall. If I had been even a little late, it would have been game over.

The rain was getting heavier. I laid down the coat I was wearing under a tree to shield us from the rain and laid Wendy on it. “Cough…” Saving Wendy was good, but her condition was terrible. There wasn’t a single part of her that was unharmed. Her shoulder was pierced by a sharp bone, and her chest was injured, making it hard for her to breathe.

“Count…” “Don’t speak.” A 12-year-old girl shouldn’t have to endure such injuries. Seeing Wendy in such a state filled me with ‘wrath’, almost enough to melt the chains of ‘patience’.

‘Those bastards… even tearing them apart wouldn’t be enough.’ Even though they were classmates, Wendy was the youngest. I couldn’t forgive those who left her alone and ran away. But now, saving Wendy’s life comes first.

I took out a recovery potion from my pocket. It wasn’t an item with miraculous recovery effects like in other games. At best, it was slightly better than a health supplement. Still, I brought it to use it like an ointment.

After entering the barrier, I had been gathering magic power to infuse into the recovery potion, just in case. I didn’t expect to use it so soon… I loosened Wendy’s collar and brought the potion to her lips.

“Drink.” “Cough…” Wendy opened her small mouth. I poured the potion bit by bit and activated the magic power dissolved in it. “Ugh…” “It’s bitter. Bear with it.”

Wendy swallowed the medicine as I instructed. I focused on letting the magic power seep into every part of her body, manipulating it from her neck to her stomach.

The effect of the magic-infused recovery potion exceeded expectations. Wendy’s pale, corpse-like face began to regain some color. Her faint breathing also returned to normal.

Wendy seemed to regain some consciousness and was staring at me. “Count…” “What is it?” “…I’m embarrassed.”

I didn’t understand at first, but Wendy’s white stomach was exposed under her torn shirt, and my hand was stroking it. Wendy was fidgeting, unsure where to look. But if I got embarrassed too, I wouldn’t be Tristan.

“Don’t be embarrassed.” “Huh?” “It’s an order.” I silently stroked Wendy’s stomach, feeling the softness. Seeing Wendy’s face turn red, it seemed she had recovered enough to breathe easier.

Now, onto the next step. I looked around. The rain made the forest far from clean. After a moment of thought, I quietly spoke. “Wendy.” “Yes?” “I’m going to pull out the bone stuck in your shoulder.”

The sharp bone piercing Wendy’s shoulder. It had to be removed for proper treatment. “It will hurt more than you can imagine. So…” I offered her my arm. “Bite down on my arm.” “…Huh?”

I didn’t want Wendy to bite on a dirty stick. Biting my arm was better. But Wendy shook her head. “No… I can’t possibly…” “You might bite your tongue. Then my efforts to heal you would be meaningless.”

I looked into Wendy’s eyes seriously. Those transparent eyes that trusted only me. “From now on, share your pain with me.” “……” “When you’re ready, bite down hard.”

Hesitating, Wendy finally opened her mouth and gently bit my arm. I held Wendy close, covering her eyes. After taking a deep breath… I pulled out the bone from her shoulder in one swift motion.

“……!!!” Wendy bit my arm. But the force was too weak. She must have been holding back intentionally. To not hurt her master.

I whispered in her ear. “It’s okay. You can bite down hard.” “…!!” That was the signal. Wendy’s teeth sank into my arm. Unable to bear the pain, she let out a silent scream in my arms. The terrible pain her small body was enduring was transmitted to me.

Thud. Soon, the sharp bone in Wendy’s shoulder was out. I quickly applied ointment to her shoulder to minimize her suffering.

After all the treatment, Wendy’s mouth opened. Her body was trembling like a leaf. “Haa… Haa… Hic…” The pain must have been unbearable for a 12-year-old girl. Perhaps enough to leave a lifelong trauma.

“You did well.” “Hic…” I patted Wendy’s head, proud of her. It wasn’t a Tristan-like action. But at this moment, I wanted to comfort her, so I stroked her head as gently as I could.

“Cough…” The emergency treatment was done, but I couldn’t relax. We needed to get out quickly and get proper treatment at a hospital. Wendy was still in critical condition. Her body was as cold as ice.

I wrapped Wendy in my coat and held her close to share my body heat. Wendy, relying on my warmth, murmured. “Count… Even if I die now, I have no regrets. Cough…” “If you die, I will have many regrets.”

Regrets? It would be a disaster. But then, Wendy said something unexpected. “I’m… sorry…” “For what?” “I failed the test… I couldn’t defeat the monsters… I couldn’t save the students… And I almost couldn’t protect…” “…?”

Wendy spoke in a choked voice. “I almost couldn’t protect the honor of the Ruelberta Family and the Count…” Only then did I understand why Wendy tried to save the students and take down the monsters with her. She prioritized the honor of me and the family over her own safety.

Realizing this, a sigh escaped my lips. “With such a small body… you tried to protect all that?” What is the Ruelberta Family? What am I, Tristan? Did this girl go to such lengths for us?

“…Foolish girl.” I closed my eyes tightly. “Compared to your existence, the honor of the family and I are insignificant.”

Wendy might not know, but her life is directly tied to my fate. Naturally, her existence is incomparable to my honor. But whether she understood or not, Wendy smiled with a pale face. “The Count… is really kind. Cough cough…”

Seeing that, I felt something ominous. Her face seemed to be losing vitality strangely. It felt like I was foreseeing our parting. And… my intuition was right.

“I think… this is as far as I go…” Wendy said, squeezing out her remaining strength. “I was really happy… to serve you. Even though I’m unworthy… to serve such an extraordinary person… cough…”

Was the treatment too late? Her eyes were losing focus. “If I can serve you in my next life… how wonderful that would be…” “Don’t joke… I only want you.”

I could do nothing as Wendy was dying in my arms. All I could do was hold her hand, losing its warmth. “In the next life, or the one after, I only want you as you are now.” “Count…” “So don’t leave me. Stay alive by my side.” “I’m sorry… I can’t anymore…”

At that moment, Wendy’s hand lost its strength and fell. My heart sank. Wendy had closed her eyes. As if she was sleeping.

No… I hugged her limp body. “Open your eyes… Don’t make me live a tomorrow without you. Foolish girl…” Perhaps she couldn’t hear me anymore. But I had to say it, or I would lose my sanity.

It was all over. The despair of failure and the loss of Wendy. I wished I could suffocate from all these emotions. But then…

“Rustle rustle…” “…?” A steady breathing sound reached my ears. Wait. This… “Could it be…?”

I put my finger under Wendy’s nose and felt her breathing. Although faint, she was definitely breathing. Realizing this, my legs gave out. “Ha……”

Luckily, she was just asleep. Probably exhausted from staying up all night studying for the test. Still, I thought it was truly the end. I was so shocked, thinking all my efforts had gone to waste.

As I sighed in relief… “Chairman!” Turning around, I saw the students who had fled approaching. Seeing them, emotions surged. But I calmly stood up.

“Is she okay?” “Yes.” “Phew. That’s a relief. We were worried for nothing.” “See? I told you she’d be fine.” “Chairman. Let’s get out of here quickly.”

Seeing them chattering, my neck throbbed. I calmly asked them, “I have one question.” “Yes?” “Why didn’t you fight?”

At least they deserved a chance to explain. I hoped they would give me an answer that could convince me.

“Ah, that’s…” No student could easily answer, perhaps sensing the intent behind my question. Finally, the only male student among them answered.

“We were saving our magic power to escape.” “Saving magic power?” “Yes. She is the most outstanding among us. She had the ability to handle the monsters alone. But if we had fought together…” “You wanted to avoid wasting magic power.” “Exactly. We were saving our magic power for when we needed to escape later.” “…I see. I understand.”

I nodded as if convinced. Hearing their answer, I realized what I had to do. “Good judgment.”

I put on the ring from my pocket. No hesitation remained in me as the chairman. And I unleashed the suppressed ‘wrath’.

“…!” Instantly, the students froze. The eerie ‘wrath’ engulfed them, burning them alive. But no one could scream. Because I didn’t allow it.

Exchanging confused and bewildered glances, the students. I informed them in my usual voice. “So, use all the magic power you saved to escape.”

 

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