After Elithia and I finished our dinner, we each walked to our rooms. But before parting ways, we stopped in front of our adjacent rooms.
"Listen, Klo... I want to apologize for spending your money on this hotel because of me."
I raised my hand to my head and scratched it multiple times.
"Don't worry about it. Just consider it payback for what I dragged you into."
Each of us entered our room. After I opened the door, I looked at what was inside.
It was… awful.
Everything was wooden and not worth the price I paid. There goes the hundred boon.
A battered wardrobe, and no bed—just a mattress on the floor, and even that wasn't arranged. And the smell… it was disgusting. Like something you can't even describe. On top of that, the room was cold.
I got into the mattress to sleep because I was overwhelmed with drowsiness, but something strange happened. I couldn't sleep.
What now? First, bad customer service, then a shabby room, and now I can't sleep. I swear I'll get my money's worth.
I shut my eyes tight, forcing myself to sleep. An hour passed, then two, then three.
"Aaaargh, I can't sleep!"
I stood up, pulling at my hair with my head lowered.
Sleep was devouring my brain cells, yet I still couldn't fall asleep.
I opened the system to kill some time. But a new option appeared at the top: "Party."
I tapped it, and another window popped up.
[Party Members]
_ Diane Lynette
_ Virellen Elithia
_ Fiol Nevin
"You can click on a party member to check their status."
Why is Lynette even in my party in the first place? Whatever. As long as she's not harmed, it doesn't matter.
I tapped Elithia to check her status.
[Party Member Stats]
Name: Virellen Elithia
Age: 17
Race: Human
Rank: B
Level: 43
[Physical & Magical Attributes]
Strength: 46
Agility: 49
Endurance: 34
Intelligence: 13
Luck: 11
Mana: 43
Aura: 37
Spiritual Energy: 40
HP: 100/100
Current Status: Awake
As expected from the Blade Maiden. She's strong, with her only flaws being intelligence, luck, and endurance—unlike a certain bastard who dumped everything on me.
But why is Elithia still awake?
I closed the windows in front of me and dragged myself out of bed, heading toward Elithia's room.
I opened my door and stood in front of hers, then knocked.
Knock… knock…
It took her a bit to open. When she did, clear signs of exhaustion covered her face.
"Are you okay, Elithia?"
She smiled while hiding the truth.
"I'm fine, Klo. Can I help you with something?"
"..."
"I don't think so, Elithia. You look sick to me."
She raised her hands, trying to deny my suspicion.
I lifted mine to touch her forehead and check her temperature.
It was high.
Sigh… "Why didn't you tell me you were feeling bad? I would've gone looking for medicine from a pharmacy."
"No no, I'm fine. I swear, Klo—"
She couldn't hold on much longer before collapsing to the ground.
"Elithia!"
I jumped to help her, her body drenched in fatigue and exhaustion.
"Hold onto me. I'll carry you."
She pulled away, refusing my help.
"No, I'm fine, Klo."
I didn't listen to her. I picked her up to take her to her pathetic excuse for a bed, just like mine. She was heavy—my shoulders stiffened from her weight. She'd definitely kill me if I ever told her that.
I tucked her into the mattress and covered her, then rushed to bring a wet towel to place on her burning forehead.
After I brought it, I told her I was going to get medicine.
"I'll go buy you some medicine."
I stood and made my way to the door, but Elithia's faint question stopped me in my tracks.
"Why are you doing all this for me?"
?
I turned to her with a smile.
"Because I don't want the people I've come to care about to get hurt."
Then I left the room, shutting the door behind me, leaving Elithia lying there.
I walked down the stairs across from our rooms, my head thinking of only one thing.
I'm worried about you because I don't want to become like those two who made me into this person. I couldn't handle their neglect.
I reached the hotel's exit. The receptionist called out.
"Hey, boy, where are you going at this late hour?"
"I'll just be outside for a bit."
"I see. Enjoy your time."
Not the time…
I walked out and started looking around for anything resembling a pharmacy.
I spotted a shop not too far away, glowing green at the front, with the word "Pharmacy" written on it.
Thank you, God.
I ran to the place and entered, finding a half-asleep man sitting on a four-legged bent-metal chair.
"Hello, can you help me?"
"... Yeah, what do you need?"
Why does this place feel weird, oozing with dangerous energy? Everything here is suspicious—even this guy.
"I need something for a fever."
"Wait, I'll check the storage."
The man went into the back to get the medicine, and I waited, scanning the place that looked like any regular pharmacy. Even those fake little plants on either side of the door.
[Notification]
"Elithia is taking damage."
HP: 80/100
What the—damn it. I need to hurry, or Elithia will die.
I lunged for the door to open it, but I couldn't. I felt something gripping me from all directions, dragging me down.
Move, damn body. Damn it. Just grab the handle.
"We've caught the pest, Klo Yuthnir."
I snapped my head back to see that damn traitor of a man.
"You bastard… let me go… let me go!"
He laughed at my pathetic state.
"Yes, Klo Yuthnir. Dance and squirm in despair, clinging to survival."
I kept struggling, trying to escape. I fought and fought, until a notification hit me like a punch to the soul.
[Notification]
"Your party member Virellen Elithia: HP 0/100"
A transparent window popped up in front of me saying that Elithia had died.
I stopped resisting, staring at that sentence that weighed down on my heart. I reread it over and over in the same dead tone.
I went limp, accepting my fate. I laid on the ground, waiting for death.
I gave up.
"What happened to you, Klo? Is this the villain everyone feared?"
Shut up. You still believe in heroes and villains? Like the monster hiding in your closet?
The world around me started to pull away. My body slowly came undone. The cold atmosphere around me changed, as if I had just come out of a freezer I'd been stuck in for hours.
Everything turned dark, and I found myself in front of Elithia, lying in her bed and staring at me.
Her cheeks were red, and wisps of her hair framed her face.
"Now, tell me your answer. Why are you worried about me?"
I stared at her. My mouth refused to speak.
Even now that I was back in the scenario, I couldn't move.
I grabbed my chest hard, lowering my head. Drool dripped down heavily, and my eyes trembled. My heart wouldn't stop racing—faster than ever before, like it would explode.
"Hey, Klo. What's wrong? Are you okay?"
Pant… pant…
"It wasn't my fault… it wasn't my fault…"
Elithia clung to me, trying to lift my head from the floor.
When she raised my face to hers, my cheeks were soaked with tears, and my face twisted with emotions I couldn't name.
She wiped my tears with her hand, trying to comfort me with gentle words.
"Don't worry, Klo. Everything will be okay. I'll recover anyway."
You don't understand a thing about the situation I'm in—or about me.
I quickly wiped my tears and stood up, forcing a laugh.
"Hahaha, you fell for my prank, Elithia. I was just trying to mess with your emotions."
"...I'm not so sure about that, Klo. You're not okay. Did something burst those hidden feelings of yours? If you need support, I'm here anytime."
"Thanks for your kindness, Elithia. But I really am fine."
[Notification]
"You have 9 rewrites left."
I looked at the system message.
Now I need to preserve my remaining chances as much as I can and save Elithia, who looks at me with sadness.
But I won't let her be sad because of me.