IBDFSML Chapter 42

Genevia was a complete mess, tears and snot streaming down her face, with no trace of the innocent or refreshing heroine-like charm. She sobbed uncontrollably.

"Huuhh… Why…"

Suppressing a visceral feeling of discomfort and confusion, I asked.

"…W-Why are you like this?"

Genevia's shoulders trembled as she struggled to hold back her sobs.

"…I… I yelled at you like crazy… I snapped at you and even said some really awful things…"

"…?"

"But… why did you come to save me? Why would you do that for someone like me…?"

"…???"

'What the heck is she even talking about?'

Remembering that I needed to get her back to Sion as soon as possible, I tried to keep it together and said again,

"Hey, let's get you up first. We'll talk as we head back to the annex."

"Huwaaaah…!!!"

Apparently, my words hit a nerve, and Genevia burst into even louder sobs.

"I thought… I really thought you hated me now… That you'd given up on me… that you'd just leave someone useless like me behind…"

"Whoa, whoa. Okay, that's enough."

I quickly put the brakes on her pity party. Then, looking at her with a cold, deadpan stare, I thought to myself.

'Tch. So that's why she's been missing from the annex. I figured she was sulking somewhere, but no, she went and dug herself a hole this deep on her own.'

Sigh~

I let out a deep sigh.

'First things first, let's cut those ropes.'

I picked up a sharp piece of debris nearby and started slicing through the ropes binding Genevia.

"Hey, remember when I told you that you were kind of a pushover?"

"…Yeah."

"I meant every word of that."

"……"

"I'm a fairy, so I can't lie. That's just how it is. But since we're being honest, let me tell you something else."

Snip, the ropes came loose and Genevia was finally freed. I looked at her with all the seriousness in the world and said.

"I don't dislike you. And more importantly-"

"You're not useless."

"…!"

Genevia's light green eyes widened in surprise.

Watching the system carefully for any spoilers, I carefully chose my words, enough to give hope, but not enough to break canon.

"My fairy instincts are telling me this, Genevia, you're going to become someone amazing in the future. You'll help a lot of people, and in return, you'll be loved and trusted by many. I guarantee it."

"R-Really…? Is that true?"

Genevia's lips trembled as she asked, her eyes shaky with emotion. She looked like a child desperately hoping for affirmation from an adult.

'…Well, I guess it makes sense. She was abandoned by her family, barely survived at the temple by reading the room all the time… It's no wonder her self-esteem is in shambles and her heart's scarred.'

The cheerful, kind, sunshine-girl version of Genevia I saw in the original story must've been her way of clawing out a place for herself.

'The heroine's life isn't exactly sunshine and roses either, huh.'

Swallowing a sigh, I spoke to Genevia, who had finally stopped crying and was now listening to me intently.

"Yeah, really. I'm a fairy, remember? I can't lie."

Only then did a hint of relief and hope start to show on Genevia's face. Seeing that, I smoothly added a little 'MSG' to the conversation, just as I'd planned.

"But… for that future to come true, there's one important condition."

"…! What is it?"

I casually placed a hand on her shoulder and declared.

"You have to become one of Sion's and my subordinates."

"…!?"

***

BANG!

"Sion!!!"

As I burst into the room, both Sion and Garen turned their eyes toward us.

"Sion, are you okay!? I'm back!"

I ran straight to Sion.

His right hand had been newly bandaged, apparently after some first aid, but the bandage was soaked in bright red blood.

Sion looked at me and asked.

"Where did you go?"

I motioned behind me.

"I brought Genevia! Genevia, quick, heal Sion's hand!"

"Haah… haah… Just a moment… Let me catch my breath…"

Genevia, who had sprinted all the way from the main building under my badgering, gasped heavily as she spoke.

Garen, watching solemnly, added.

"We've wrapped the wound with pressure, but we're still struggling to stop the bleeding."

"Let me take a look at the wound."

Genevia stepped closer and carefully examined Sion's hand.

"This is a nasty injury. It looks like the inner muscles and bones are damaged. How did something like this happen during a sparring match…?"

"I was stabbed through by a chain sword."

"…!"

At Sion's blunt explanation, Genevia visibly paled.

Standing beside them, watching nervously, I examined the wound with her and couldn't help but shudder.

"Ugh, just looking at it makes my own hand hurt. Hurry up and heal him, Genevia."

"Please don't rush me. I need to focus."

After a moment, Genevia began chanting. Divine power glowed at her fingertips, a warm golden light that spread and wrapped around Sion's wounded hand.

Wuuuuuung…

Time passed slowly. When the light finally faded, Sion's hand looked like it had never been injured at all.

"…!!!"

I immediately grabbed Sion's now-uninjured hand and urgently asked.

"How is it, Sion!? Does it feel okay? Try moving it!"

Sion opened and closed his hand, testing it, then calmly said.

"No problems."

"Ah… thank goodness!"

Relieved beyond words, I collapsed forward and sprawled over Sion's hand. Holding it tightly, I muttered.

"That could've ended really badly. Don't do anything that reckless again, okay?!"

"I let my guard down. I didn't expect him to bring a chain sword."

Sion furrowed his brows as he recalled the earlier duel.

Then, Genevia spoke up cautiously.

"…That wasn't a fair fight, was it?"

Both Sion and I turned our eyes to her. Genevia dropped her gaze and added.

"I'm certain the Grand Duchess manipulated things behind the scenes."

That marked the beginning of Genevia's explanation.

"Hm, so you were captured by the Grand Duchess's aide."

"…Yes."

Genevia couldn't raise her head, clearly ashamed to be involved in something tied to the Grand Duchess.

As if she were ready to start digging herself into another emotional hole, I gently patted her on the head.

"Hey, but you still came to help Sion, didn't you? You even healed him like this. I believe in you, Genevia. Starting today, you're one of us."

"…Ms. Lin…"

Taking the chance, I turned to Sion and everyone else and declared,

"Oh, and about her 'consent', I got it! Genevia has officially agreed to become our team's exclusive healing priestess. That means she's coming with us! Right, Genevia?"

"…Yes, that's right."

Genevia answered obediently, looking a bit shy and awkward about it all.

Sion, looking slightly surprised, commented.

"That's rather unexpected. I didn't think you were the type with that level of dedication."

"…That's disappointing to hear."

As the atmosphere between them started to turn chilly again, I quickly waved my hands in the air and tried to change the mood.

"Okay, okay! No time to argue. Since we've finalized our expedition members, we need to submit the roster and start getting ready to leave!"

"…Wait, expedition?"

"She's right. We'll need to recalculate the necessary supplies and travel funds based on the updated team size and submit a request."

"Garen, make sure to ask for plenty of snack money and emergency funds, too!"

"Understood."

"…Uh, wait, excuse me. What do you mean, expedition?"

"Counting on you, Garen."

As Garen gathered the documents and stepped out, Elda entered the room.

"Oh, everyone's here."

She set down a warm tea tray on the table and said with a faint smile.

"Looks like you're all busy getting ready for the expedition. I wish I could go with you and Ms. Lin and the young lord… But I suppose someone like me, just a mere maid, would only be a burden in a dangerous place like that."

Startled by her words, Genevia quickly asked.

"Wait, a dangerous place? What are you talking about? Since earlier, what is all this about-?"

"Oh! Goodness, where is my mind today!"

Elda clapped her hands as if suddenly remembering something.

She picked up a small box from the tray and placed it in front of Sion.

"It's finally finished, young lord!"

"This is…?"

"It's the item you mentioned a few weeks ago! I'm so glad we managed to complete it in time!"

"…Ah. So that's what it is."

Understanding what Elda meant, Sion nodded slowly.

Unable to contain my curiosity, I zipped over to the box.

"What is it? What is it, what is it?!"