Chapter 104

News of Belona’s condition had been delivered to Roseanne a little late, and she headed to the infirmary with Enria.

 

When Roseanne heard that Belona had mistaken Enria for Groen, she said it was probably the same kind of confusion as when Belona had mistaken Caldeon for Groen.

 

“When Belona had her soul eaten last time, Lord Caldeon saved her, remember? Back then she mistook him for Groen.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

As Enria nodded, Roseanne continued.

 

“She probably mistook you for Groen for the same reason. She’s confusing the person who helped her with the person most important to her. Like how a newborn chick imprints on the first thing it sees.”

 

“…Ah.”

 

“I mean, I can’t say it’s the definitive cause, but it’s the most likely one for now. Anyway—aside from the kiss on your chin, there was no other harm?”

 

Enria shook her head and gave a small laugh at Roseanne referring to what happened as “harm.”

 

“But you should be careful. Think of the time when she clung to Lord Caldeon and wouldn’t let go for even a moment. She could easily do the same to you, Enri.”

 

“But wouldn’t it be a little reassuring if it’s me?”

 

When Enria lifted one shoulder with the comment, Roseanne froze mid-step.

 

“Reassuring?”

 

She looked at Enria like she couldn’t understand a single word she had just said, then spoke with a grave expression.

 

“Enri, the moment she mistook you for Groen and kissed you, this stopped being a small issue. For you and for Belona.”

 

“…”

 

“This isn’t reassuring at all.”

 

“No, that’s not what I meant… I just meant—wouldn’t it have been worse if she’d done that to some man instead of me?”

 

“Does it matter if it’s a man or a woman? Mistaking someone for a lover and making advances on them is the issue.”

 

From Roseanne’s firm tone, Enria realized people in this world didn’t seem to draw strict lines between same-sex and opposite-sex behavior.

 

‘So same-sex relationships must be considered normal here.’

 

The thought had barely settled when Roseanne’s next words pushed it aside.

 

“Especially Lord Caldeon. He’ll try to kill the other person regardless of whether you do that with a woman or a man.”

 

“…”

 

“Look at me. If I spend even a little too long with you, he looks at me like I’m some rival for your affection.”

 

It was true—Caldeon didn’t discriminate. Rahar, Tearen, Roseanne—none of them were exceptions.

 

Anyone who seemed too close or spent too much time with Enria was met with the same murderous glare.

 

Enria knew it wasn’t jealousy so much as his deep distrust of humans, so she didn’t dwell on it.

 

“If Belona tries to cling to you in front of him, there’s no way he’ll tolerate it. The moment he learned she kissed you on the chin, he immediately told me to fix her.”

 

Roseanne grumbled—what could she possibly do to fix Belona’s mind?—but admitted she didn’t like the idea of Belona clinging to Enria either, so she would try to find some solution.

 

Enria gave her an awkward smile.

 

Honestly, she didn’t feel even slightly uncomfortable about Belona mistaking her for Groen.

 

She wouldn’t mind whenever Belona’s mind returned to normal.

 

Of course, she would help Belona recover—for her sake and for the battles still ahead with dark mages and the evil god.

 

She simply didn’t intend to force the issue.

 

Enria walked toward the infirmary beside Roseanne, wondering what would actually help Belona most right now.

 

 

***

 

 

“Groen, why are you with Lady Kaznaren?”

 

Belona looked rigid as she stared at Enria.

 

She hadn’t recognized Rahar immediately, yet she recognized Roseanne at once—meaning some memories of Roseanne were still intact.

 

“Why are you in Groen’s house?”

 

Only the memories from before half her soul was eaten.

 

“This isn’t Groen’s house, Belona,” Roseanne replied calmly as she took Belona’s wrist to feel her pulse.

 

“What are you doing? Let go of me! Groen, why are you with this woman—!”

 

“Pulse is normal. Did you finish all your meals?”

 

Roseanne asked without waiting for an answer and turned toward the shelves lined with medicine bottles.

 

“Enri, how often have you been using recovery magic on her?”

 

“About once every three hours, I think.”

 

Roseanne nodded once.

 

Enria, noticing she seemed to be searching for a specific medicine, asked,

 

“Are you looking for something for Belona?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“What kind?”

 

“Something calming…”

 

“You think I’ll take anything you give me?!” Belona snapped, glaring sharply at Roseanne and screaming for Enria to get away from her and come to her side instead.

 

“I can’t find it… maybe an injection would be faster.” Roseanne narrowed her eyes.

 

“But she’s not clinging like before…”

 

“Ah, you misunderstood. I’m not looking for a sedative. I’m looking for something to stabilize her nerves.”

 

What’s the difference?

 

Enria blinked, puzzled.

 

Roseanne immediately caught the expression.

 

“A sedative is almost like anesthesia—we only use that when someone is completely frantic. Belona isn’t at that level. She’s more… anxious. A nervous-system stabilizer will help her relax.”

 

Enria, still glancing at Belona who kept shouting, said gently, “You’ll hurt your throat yelling like that, Belona.”

 

“Groen! Get that woman out! Why are you stuck to her?!”

 

At this point she would normally come running over, grab Enria’s arm, and trap her in place—but she didn’t move an inch from the bed.

 

Almost as if she couldn’t.

 

As if leaving that spot would be dangerous.

 

Enria’s gaze lowered to the bed—and she noticed faint black smoke flickering around the area.

 

So faint it would go unnoticed unless someone looked carefully.

 

She reached toward it, and Belona instantly grabbed her hand.

 

“Don’t touch it, Groen.”

 

As if she knew the smoke was there.

 

Dark magic.

 

Fear struck her. Maybe dark magic had crept in, maybe a dark mage had slipped into the infirmary and tampered with Belona’s mind.

 

Enria instinctively poured holy power into Belona through their joined hands.

 

Belona let out a soft, relieved sigh, eyes fluttering closed—

 

But then abruptly snapped them open and slapped Enria’s hand away like a different person had taken over.

 

“What are you doing, Groen? That’s a disgusting power.”

 

“It’s not disgusting, it’s holy power. Rose, I think this is dark magic.”

 

Roseanne spun around, eyes widening.

 

Enria pointed at the faint black smoke.

 

“Should we call Lord Caldeon?”

 

“Groen, listen to me—”

 

Belona tried to pull Enria toward her, and Enria nearly fell onto the bed—but Roseanne reacted instantly, using magic to pull Enria to her side.

 

“Don’t touch it until we know what it is.”

 

Roseanne said a dark mage could have planted some mental-interference spell while no one noticed, and she gestured for Enria to leave and get Caldeon.

 

Enria gave a tiny nod and headed for the door—

 

At that moment, a beam of light shot from Belona, cutting across Enria’s path.

 

Enria reflexively used a holy barrier to block it, and Roseanne sliced the spell apart before it could bind Enria.

 

“You should hurry, Enri.”

 

“R-right.”

 

She almost asked if Roseanne would be okay alone, but there was no time.

 

What if the dark magic made Belona attack Roseanne while she was gone?

 

Though Roseanne was far from helpless—no ordinary tower mage could handle her—it was still better to hurry.

 

Enria left the infirmary, walking fast—then running—her hair whipping behind her as she sprinted down the long corridor.

 

The faint black smoke flickering beside Belona’s bed clung stubbornly to her thoughts, darkening her expression as she ran.