Chapter 90 - A Heads-Up Notice
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[Davis Blackraven POV]
"Cough! Cough! Ugh...!"
"J-just hang in there! I'll do something about it!"
Perhaps it was the fate of the karma that strike me by playing the villain just to protect Jasmine in any possible harm that comes her winding path. I would have accepted it if the karma had taken me into my demise instead of Jasmine. But as far as I can accept this, it appeared worse than I imagined.
It's been a while since the Tournament had ended. I, who was a participant until the final lose against my opponent in a close call. It was at that moment that my hope of curing Jasmine's unknown illness has been completely shattered. But for the sake of her, I kept going on.
I tried to ask the Cult for a second chance, even as swallowing my ego and begged them to help me but it was futile. They did give me an offer to join their Cult, but I don't want that! Boundaries aside, but I would never join such groups Jasmine was morally against with.
"D-Davis... Cough! Cough! Huff..."
I'm currently at Jasmine's room, with her sleeping, tightly holds her hands as I sat on the floor, biting my lips. Her illness became worse than before, even worsening as time went on.
"Damn it! Damn it all..."
I'm at my wit's end. I tried to think of everything that can possibly help Jasmine, but it was useless. Every physician that I came into didn't know how to cure it. Even the Cult whom I had my last hope into had abandoned me. I-I don't know what to do... I-if... if ever... someone...
"Someone... please save Jasmine... I'll do anything to pay you... I'll even become a kind person, so please... someone... please..."
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[Sai Crimsonheart POV]
Being popular really is great on its own. Especially a positive which will either get the people to love and adore you, especially the greatness that's the catalyst of your popularity. Unfortunately, mine had the exact opposite.
Walking our way towards the Academy building, I was being stared with negative feedback as usual. But this time, instead of being usually stared daggers when they see me, they instead squinted their face as they look at me in disgust.
"Uwah... This guy still got the nerve to show himself? How shameless."
"He can't accept his lose that he'll beat Davis up in desperation, truly mortifying."
"I'll never show my face here if I were him."
The students that we passed each murmured their snide remarks against me. It might be almost the sound of a whisper, but they intentionally made it louder as to make me hear them.
In response, the girls with the exception of Astra, shot them a fierce glare as to shut them. Even Luna who was flustered a while ago can't help but frown in response to their insinuating remarks.
"I already anticipated their response towards Sai but this sure is pissing me off..." Lily said, frowning, as her eyes narrowed in indignation.
"Just let them. It's not like I'm practically bothered by it or anything."
Shrugging Lily's complain, we continued to head as I get some hurtful comments from the students. I informed the girls about Bellatrix after I send them to our classroom and went my way towards the Student Council Room. After a curt knock, I head inside the room to see Bellatrix holding a coffee in her seat as she looks at me in surprise.
"My, very early in the morning, aren't we, Sai?"
"Well, yeah. It's not like it'll do good for me to stay at the classroom as my own classmates skewer me with mockery."
"Well, I did tell you to lie low for a while but seems like you're quite the diligent." said Bellatrix with a small laugh.
"I'm glad we came to an understanding." I replied as I sat on one of the seats stationed at the center. "I came here upon your request yesterday. I might be too quick, but I'd like to borrow Lemuen after the class or now if possible."
"Oh my, you're quite the bold guy, aren't you?" Bellatrix replied in a teasing manner. "I might be jumping into conclusions, but the personal debt and giving you Lemuen are completely different things, okay?"
Her voice might sound sarcastic, but I know there's a hidden meaning behind it. I'm glad she very much loves her sister but man, her sisterly love made me shiver a bit.
"No, I didn't mean it that way. I plan on going on a long trip somewhere but before that, I'm taking some careful preparation for that reason. And since I'll be doing some improvements, I decided to have Lemuen to join me as to help her as per your request."
"Aw... I had thought you actually wanted Lemuen for you..." Bellatrix shot me a teasing wink. "What a let-down, fufu~"
Eh?! I-I had thought that— Ugh... Man, this woman likes to tease me, huh. But just in case, I'll keep that in mind.
"By the way, what long trek that needs a careful preparation are we talking about?" Bellatrix added, abruptly cutting my thoughts as I pondered.
"Ah, the thing is..."
I told Bellatrix in great detail about my plan on going to the 『Artic』 along with the preparations I needed to lay on to engage such harsh place, added with the difficulty of the 『Chaos Mode』.
Just as you had expected, Bellatrix was conflicted and hesitant, since of course, her sister will be sortied on a harsh place that even the frontliners hopelessly struggled against. But of course,
I gave Bellatrix a word of assurance—that her sister, Lemuen will be as strong as us after we got back from such place.
Unfortunately, I'm not some kind of messiah or something that I'll just give everyone something out of kindness. Of course, there's a catch. I firmly explained it on Bellatrix on what possibilities I need to do to Lemuen before I made her become of what I explained earlier, which to my surprise was—
"I accept." said Bellatrix, sipping her cup as if there was no risk of accepting such compensation.
"Wha—?! You'll accept it just like that?!"
"There's no need to overthink about such things. After all, it's you were talking about."
"Haha, you seem confident about it..." I retorted, straining a smile.
"Yeah, I will also accept what Lemuen's decision will be afterwards. As for you, I fully entrust you my little sister. You might have saved me from the illness, but everything would be useless if my sister didn't make it."
"Yeah, I promise you that." I firmly replied with a nod, then paused for a while. "Hm, it seems like it'll be a while after Lemuen manage to get here. How about a little chat?"
"Great idea. I'll make an exception of your absence today. Just so you know, albeit a student I still have an authority in this Academy." Bellatrix assertedly informed, taking a sip from her coffee. "Lemuen won't be able to get here right now but I'll try to make an exception after the recess. so, just to point out, we'll be having a full long conversation in the meantime."
And thus, I spend my whole time making a conversation with Bellatrix. I'll be honest, she was pretty fun to talk with. She was very mature and considerate which made it easy for me to talk with her. After talking for a while, I began to understand how she thinks a little.
It seems like Bellatrix had also become comfortable with me since she starts to share her story. Just like I had thought, Bellatrix and Lemuen are both an unusual race called Nymphs, which she tackled through her story. Apparently, the sisters also had quite a tragic story. Both became slaves in their young age after their village was attacked by a bandit. On their way towards being sell out, their parents gave the sisters some time and sacrificed themselves by blocking the bandits to give them time to escape the auction. Luckily, they manage to escape successfully, but sadly, it causes them their parents. Using her sister as her catalyst of hope, Bellatrix began to crawl her way towards success until she managed to where she was now.
"Hm, quite the tragic life you sisters live on..." I dejectedly replied.
"It was already in the past, so I'm not really bothered by it anymore."
The talk went for another minute, until the recess had finally arrived.
It was of that time were almost everyone went into cafeteria and eat their lunch as the Academy gave the students a temporary break. Knowing it's that time, Bellatrix went to get Lemuen alone as I idly stay at the Student Council Room. And after a moment of waiting...
"I'm here, Sai! Huff...! Huff...! I-I'm sorry for being late...!"
Lemuen came banging on the door as she went inside, breathing heavily for some reason.
"C-calm down, it's not like were on a rush or something." I pointed out, waving my hand as not to mind it. "Also, we'll be together for a while, honorifics are unnecessary."
"I-I'll keep that in mind..."
After Lemuen's flustered agreement came Bellatrix composedly inside the room. After seeing her came back, I rose out of my seat, stretching my arms up high.
"Alright. Since you're here, we should head out now? or unless, you still have something you need to do?"
"Mhm," Lemuen waved her head aside. "I've already been informed by my sister so I'm all good to go now."
"Good to know." I nodded to Lemuen's remark then shifted my attention to Bellatrix. "We'll be going now. I'll let you handle this side, Bellatrix."
"Yeah, leave it to me."
And thus, Lemuen and I left the place as Bellatrix wave her hand on us. Alright, looks like I have a lot of things I need to do right now.