LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 7 - To Evian
Their original destination had been the third basement level. However, Kairoc could not agree to venture any deeper – not in his own current condition, nor given their overall situation.
The knight captain, who also led the subjugation force, clearly showed his displeasure towards Kairoc’s stance. But what choice did they have?
Out of nearly forty adventurers, over ten were dead and most of the rest injured. To descend to the third basement with those who could barely move was simply nonsensical.
Moreover, the guildmaster’s vaunted skilled healer Yona had also suffered major injuries, concealing her right arm beneath cloth wrappings. With her holy cloth nowhere in sight, it had likely been expended during the battle.
“…Tch.”
The knight captain had no choice but to turn back. Attempting the third level with just his remaining twenty subjugators… it wasn’t impossible, but certainly not ideal either.
The adventurers were brought along merely as fodder. With the majority now lost, it made little sense to proceed with only his forces.
Not to mention the priests accompanying them – if they were to be harmed while advancing alone, it would cause major issues.
“Very well. You’ve all worked hard.”
At least they had recovered the demon’s severed head from the second basement. Better than returning completely empty-handed.
With no other recourse, the knight captain ordered the retreat.
“Oh my, Sister. You’re injured too?”
“No, Yona is fine.”
“I’m not asking you, Alec.”
Mary’s prying gaze was a bit discomforting. But Alec remained standing protectively in front of Yona, blocking Mary’s view.
Given how tightly Alec’s clothes were wound around Yona’s arm, Mary would surely find it strange.
While Yona had discarded the magic-saturated holy cloth, her right arm bore…issues, best not publicly revealed for now. So Alec had removed his outer robe and wrapped it snugly around her arm instead.
Fortunately, Kairoc was not the frivolous sort to go gossiping about such matters. Especially not when Yona’s actions had likely saved them all from annihilation – he would undoubtedly keep it under wraps.
The others hadn’t gotten a clear look, so to them it simply appeared odd that Yona had Alec’s clothes bound around her arm.
“Hey, are you two the first adventurer couple now?”
“Shut your damn mouth, will you?”
Yona retained her trademark curtness, giving Miscott’s backside a sharp smack as he cackled suggestively.
Yet in this peculiar situation with Alec’s robe coiled around her arm, no matter how vehemently she denied it, it lacked real conviction.
“So Alec’s been chasing after Yona’s ass all this time and finally scored? What a victory for mankind, that bald bastard!”
“Emmerson you son of a bitch-aaah!”
As Alec remained silent, only Yona flared up, lashing out wildly in response to the insinuations.
“Is it really that bad?”
“Is what?”
“Y’know, that thing from earlier.”
It was already morning by now, the start of a new day as the sun began to rise.
The shops lining the road from the guild office to the Moon and Star Inn were bustling in preparation, having awoken from a restful night.
And amidst that, Alec and Yona walked to put this day behind them.
“…You mean that ‘couple’ remark?”
She must be referring to the adventurer couple comments from earlier.
“Yes, it utterly disgusts me. I told you, I was a man before. That memory is still vivid, so how could I ever be with another man? No way. Absolutely not.”
Alec’s lips parted slightly, as if to protest, but her vehement rejection sapped his courage to speak up.
He stole a sidelong glance at her profile instead. Bathed in the rising morning light, her unusually pale complexion seemed to glow radiantly.
Having just washed up at the guild, her skin looked dewy, as if a firm press would make droplets bead up on the surface.
Those shimmering golden irises too – such an uncommon eye color in this world.
And those long, milk-colored locks that never seemed to lose their gloss no matter how unkempt.
“…What happened to your veil?”
“Ah, now that you mention it…”
Yona patted the top of her head. Of course no veil would simply materialize there – she frowned in displeasure.
“Damn, I lost it again. I’ll have to get a new one…”
“Is that really necessary?”
“It is necessary. I already get chastised at the cathedral for not looking nun-like enough. If I don’t wear the veil, just imagine what they’ll say.”
“It’s not me getting scolded, so I don’t care.”
“You little…”
Alec let out a chuckle. Well, it likely didn’t matter much anyway.
With the rumors already swirling about her being some mentally unsound woman constantly claiming to have once been a man, no other men were likely to make advances on her.
But Alec knew better. She was kind, selfless – her delusions were just a way to rebuff unwanted attention, not genuine mental illness.
For now, Alec was content with their current relationship dynamic. He was the vanguard Yona trusted most, the one she relied on for every expedition.
At least this way, nothing would disrupt that crucial bond they shared.
“Hey, thanks for the escort. And the clothes.”
“No problem. When will you go get a new holy cloth?”
“Who knows?”
It wasn’t until entering her long-term residence room at the Moon and Star Inn that Yona finally unwound Alec’s robe from her arm and handed it back.
She would need to purchase a new holy cloth, of course. With the subjugation reward payment, she could easily afford a decent one.
“Maybe I’ll go the day after tomorrow.”
Not tomorrow – she planned to visit the tower in Evian tomorrow instead.
While the holy cloth was important, first she needed to understand just what these dense markings covering her arm actually were.
Ideally, find a way to remove them too, before doing anything else like acquiring a new holy cloth.
“Alright, I’ll come pick you up then.”
“What’s with you insisting on an escort? We can just meet at the guild.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
With a wave, Yona shut the door on the hesitating Alec.
She was utterly drained. Bone-weary enough to instantly pass out once lying down.
‘Ah right, I need a bath…’
After all, she had been flailing about in that dusty chamber, even plunging her arm directly into the demon’s body.
Just imagining that lingering grime made her skin crawl. How wonderful it would feel to soak in a warm bath.
But the thought trailed off as her eyes fell on the inviting bed. Once acknowledging her fatigue, there was no other choice but to collapse onto the mattress.
‘Ten coppers and…they’ll change the straw mattress…’
Yona clambered up onto the lumpy, poking straw-stuffed mattress. Not exactly the pinnacle of comfort, but it would have to do.