34.Priority of Life

Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy

Iris

My consciousness resurfaced. What was I doing just now…?

My thoughts were hazy, and I couldn’t remember as quickly as I’d like.

My vision was blocked by something, and I could hardly move my body, as if I was stuck in a closed space.

The cracked “Protection” disappeared, leaving behind a pale light.

“…!”

I realized that something heavy was pressing against my body. The feeling of warm body heat and hard, solid muscles. Why was there a man on top of me…?

“Eep…!”

In an instant, I was terrified to the point of being on the verge of panic, and I quickly tried to push the person on top of me away.

Squish

My hand slipped off his body, leaving a damp sensation behind as I grasped into the void.

The most recent memories I could remember started to replay in my brain as it finally rebooted properly.

A flash of light.

An explosion.

Two people blown away like paper by the shockwave that came after, engulfed in flames…

It was me, and…

“……Hey… you’re… finally awake…”

A voice came from overhead.

It was a voice I’d only started to hear since this morning… Weiss-san.

Just as I came to that realization, the weight that had been pressing down on me rolled over, and the light of sunset pierced my eyes.

“…Kid, why are you… so scrawny anyway… it was like hugging a pile of bones… (coughs)”

“Weiss-san!!”

When I finally grasped the situation and jumped up, I saw a man with severe burns all over his body, his clothes torn and tattered, his bare skin burnt reddish-black in places, and blood oozing from everywhere… Weiss-san looked nothing like he did just moments ago.

I, on the other hand, didn’t feel anything unusual anywhere… I didn’t think my “Protection” alone could do this. In fact, Weiss-san, who had been in the same situation as me, was left in such a cruel state.

No.

I was only able to get away relatively unscathed… because he used his own body to shield me from the blast!

“Y-You need treatment now- Ouch!”

My hand that reached out in haste was knocked away with a thud.

“No need to… Frankly, I don’t give a damn… Go, you’ve got other things to do…”

“But I can’t leave you like this…!”

“Shut, up! My role is to protect you…! Your role… is over there, get going already!”

With a blood-curling voice, he pointed to where the battle was still ongoing, which made me turn my eyes involuntarily.

The Goblin General was still trying to shake off Saul-niisama and Reiji-san, who were desperately holding it back. It seemed that the enemy had no more card left to play. Perhaps the only way it could turn the situation around… was to kidnap me and escape. But that plan had fallen through, and as long as I could get everyone back on their feet, the enemy was as good as finished.

But…

Saul-niisama, who somehow managed to remain on the frontline… was holding his shield with only one arm. His other arm was slumped, unable to hold the sword, and pointing in a strange direction. Reiji-san, who was trying to cover for Saul-niisama as much as he could, suddenly held his chest and coughed up blood. The rest of the mercenaries had wounds all over their bodies… that’s our current situation.

Gingerly, I bit my lip and stood up. Yes, I must do something about this. As the person in charge of everyone’s life here, I had a duty to make a choice.

Who should I prioritize?

It’s settled. Objectively speaking, Weiss-san alone didn’t have that high of a priority. I should be focusing on supporting those who were still fighting on the frontline. Because if they collapsed, that would be the end for all of us. It’s a fact that I understood too well. It’s something I’d been doing all the time back when it was still a game.

But…

“11^th Purification Mantra: Light of Compassion, Light of Rebirth…”

I knew what was at stake here. With this, my magic power would be completely depleted. There was no more left over to spare. This is highest-ranking area-of-effect recovery magic of my secondary class “Bishop”. It was a heavy burden for this weakened body, but the only way to overcome the current situation at once was to use it. The area-of-effect magic that I had used so many times was ingrained in my brain. With only a few seconds left to complete the chanting, I desperately searched for a way to contain us all within the spell’s coverage.

…However, the distance between us was simply too great. My mouth kept on chanting while this futile wish of mine lingered in my mind.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry, I’m sorry!

I’msorryI’msorryI’msorryI’msorry!

“…Embrace the Goddess’ blessings! ‘Divine Embrace’!!”

Trails of light ran across the desolate land. They formed a three-dimensional magic circle, spreading out in a hemispherical shape and enveloping the wounded in a warm embrace. The burnt earth began to sprout green, melting away all injuries and ailments.

…Except for me and Weiss-san.

All the magic in my body was mercilessly sucked up by this magic to the last drop.

The whole body rapidly lost its strength, and I fell to my knees. I was barely able to hold on using my staff as support. I couldn’t fall yet. I had lost most of my five senses, and the only sound I could hear was the weak, snatching sound of air being sucked into my lungs. It’s clear that I had already exceeded my limit, and I could no longer feel my limbs. Still, I must see it through. In order to save everyone, I had to cut down on one person.

It can’t be helped, can it…? I’ve already worked myself to the limits…

In my hazy vision, the scene of battle had changed. Reiji-san and his Saul-niisama, who had released their race characteristics before I knew it, were fighting at full force, with none of the earlier struggle. Behind them, the mercenaries, who had regained their original capabilities, were sweeping the surroundings under the direction of Philias-san and providing support to the two of them.

I did my best.

Despite everything, I did my best.

Is it time… to give up?

Even if a life’s going to disappear before my eyes… am I going to give up?

…No. I hate giving up.

…I won’t give up.

…Absolutely never!

There must still be some left! Desperately, I gathered up the squeezed magical power from my extremities. Not enough… still not enough! But I had to do it! I will not give up, I never want to give up, I can’t let myself give up!

A faint, fleeting light lit up in my hand. Not enough, this still didn’t seem to work properly. Please, my body, lend me more power!

“…I beg you… let me hold on for a bit longer!!”

I think I managed to squeeze out enough power to show signs of activating “Heal”. Almost there!

“UUUUUAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHH!!”

I didn’t care if it ripped my throat out, the light of “Heal” that was forcibly activated with such a cry reached Weiss-san, vaguely out of the corner of my eyes.

That was the last thing I saw before my consciousness sank deeper and deeper into the darkness…

“…You’re awake… thank god…”

Someone sighed deeply in relief at my side… Reiji-san?

Against the backdrop of the ceiling of my borrowed room, which I had grown accustomed to seeing, I could vaguely see Saul-niisama’s worried face. Milly-san’s teary, angry expression. And the feeling of touch all over my body… was that Philias-san’s stern face I saw?

“I’m touching your hand right now, can you tell? Now it’s the ankle… Okay, now look over here, how many fingers are there?… Looks like your visibility hasn’t recovered yet.”

One by one, I gave answers to Philias-san’s questions.

My sensation was still there, but my vision was blurred, and I couldn’t see anything clearly. And then there was the intense weariness that entangled my entire body. I didn’t feel like I can move a finger.

“That’s magic depletion for you. As long as the body is in a state of self-preservation, the body will not accept any act that consumes magical power outside it. You won’t be able to use magic for a few days until you’re back to normal physical condition.”

Someone spoke from a distance… Walter-san?

“The battle was over since yesterday. You’ve been asleep ever since, young lady.”

“But what about…?!”

Yes, I couldn’t stay like this, I have to treat my injuries. I tried to move my immobile body, but Philias-san held me back.

“Rest easy, Weiss-kun is safe at the moment. It might leave some scars, but it’s not life-threatening. Everyone else came back in one piece. Except for you.”

I could finally relax at those words. Thank goodness…

“I have to let you know that it’s just too risky to completely use up all your magic. You could have died… I guess it was lucky that I prepared that many potions. But don’t do anything like this ever again.”

Philias-san reprimanded me strongly.

“You’re just exaggerating-”

“YOU ALMOST KILLED YOURSELF, DAMMIT!!”

“Yeah… how can you be so reckless?!”

A hand slammed beside my head, startling me… not that I could react much in this condition, though. But the sight of Reiji-san staring at me in tears, and Milly-san glaring at me like a mother scolding her child was enough to make me tremble.

“Calm down, you two. We aren’t here to intimidate her.”

“…Sorry, I overreacted.”

“…I just couldn’t hold back…”

After chiding the two of them, Saul-niisama turned toward me. From the look in his eyes, he seemed even more furious than anyone else.

“That said, I, too, am really angry about this whole thing. Do not, for a moment, think that we’re exaggerating what we said.”

With a deep sigh, Saul-niisama continued in a tired voice.

“They’re correct, you know. Your heart had actually stopped beating, several times in fact.”

I gasped at what he just said. I really did come close to never waking up again. At the time, I had no idea it was that dangerous. I turned pale, realizing what I had done.

“..…Sorry…”

“No, it is rather we who should apologize. You shouldn’t have gone through this.”

“For now, get some rest. You look terrible right now.”

“…Yes.”

I closed my eyes as everyone looked on, and my body, craving for rest, was soon overcome by sleep and my consciousness sank into darkness again.

It took another two days before I was able to get myself up.

Finally allowed to go out in the vicinity, and using a staff to support my unstable feet due to the lack of enhancement magic, it didn’t take long for me to go to my first stop… the person I was looking for was by the town’s well.

“Um…”

“Ah, you’re awake. Nice to see you.”

Without looking up from the vegetable he was peeling… Weiss-san curtly greeted me.

“I thought you were exempted from peeling vegetables.”

“Well, since I have nothing to do after being forced to take a vacation, might as well volunteer for this… Take a seat somewhere.”

I did as he said and sat down with difficulty on a stone staircase of a reasonable height around here.

“…Magic depletion, hmm? Sucks to be you.”

“I’ll get used to it.”

We sat in silence for a while.

“…So it really did leave scars.”

The left half of his face had keloid-like burn scars in places. I heard that the fatal injury was mostly cured by my “Heal” at that time, but it was not perfect and had to be treated with a large amount of potions.

If that’s the case, then there must be more scars beneath his clothes, too…

“Don’t sweat it. These hands can still fire a bow… If anything, I’m just lucky that my life was saved, you have my thanks for that.”

I immediately shook my head. I didn’t deserve any thanks, because at that time, I…

“…I’m sorry, I…!”

I thought I had resolved not to cry. Tears were flowing down my cheeks.

“I… at that time… I didn’t choose you…!”

I had only accounted for lives by the number. And I put his life at the bottom of the list. He had risked his life to save me, even though he had been injured to that point. I felt so guilty that I couldn’t even look directly at him, and my unstoppable tears started to trickle down to the ground.

“Ah… Darn it, that’s why kids are a headache to deal with.”

My vision suddenly darkened.

“(sniffs) Eh…?”

He was forming a circle with his middle finger and this thumb… and placed them in front of my eyes…?

“Eep?!”

Suddenly, I felt a slight shock and a sharp pain on my forehead. Did he just… flick my forehead?

While I was still confused by the sudden event, a sharp finger was thrust in front of me.

“You saved the entire company. That’s your job, and only you can do it. And I’m still alive and kicking right now. If I’m mad at you, it’s because of the way I heard about it later, but, well, you’re alive, too. Is that not enough for you?”

“But that’s only hindsight…”

“Hindsight or whatever doesn’t mean jack. Both you and I are alive and preparing for the banquet. That’s all what matters, isn’t it?”

Still sounding annoyed, he continued his story, scratching his head.

“Captain Walter told me that I should be proud of myself, that any scar I got after protecting a girl was a medal. That’s why I’m going to hold my head high and live with these scars. So how about you giving me something more positive than an apology?”

He then pushed a basket of vegetables toward me.

“You’re learning to cook, right?”

“Y-Yes! I’m still starting with the easy dishes. But why?”

“Make something for the banquet, since tonight is the celebration of our victory, which was delayed because a certain crazy kid couldn’t wake up, and I’m sure all those guys will be happy if you make them even one dish.”

“…U-Understood!”

Wiping away my tears and staggering under the weight of the basket, I stood up, propping myself up with one hand on my staff to support my weight. If there was anything I can do, I wouldn’t stay idle.

“I don’t think I can make much of anything, but I’ll do my best!”

With that said, I hurried back the way I came.

“…I took that back, you aren’t crazy, kid, you’re a goddamn lunatic.”

I heard a venomous voice behind me and chuckled. While we didn’t exactly get off to a nice start, he wasn’t as bad of a person I thought he was. I turned around and said in a loud voice so that the thoughts that poked out of my chest would be heard properly.

“I’m sorry for the for the horrible things I said to you the other day! You are much nicer than I thought!”

“(chokes) W-What…?!”

For some reason, the basket of vegetables slipped out of his hands and made a loud noise.

I turned on my heel with a smile on my face. My steps were much, much lighter.

Well, now that I’ve made a promise, what shall I make? I should talk to Mrs. Miranda about it. I headed home with a few ideas in my mind of what I could make with the vegetables I had on hand.

And so the heaping pile of potato salad I made for dinner was received much better than expected and disappeared into everyone’s stomachs with great success.