My Illusion Is Survival - Chapter 28

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 28

This world had strangely realistic aspects to it.

‘External injuries are treated by physicians, and internal injuries are treated by priests.’

While physicians could certainly treat minor internal injuries, when it came to problems that didn’t require surgical procedures, the power of priests was direct and effective.

Of course, it was disgustingly expensive, so ordinary commoners found it difficult to receive treatment from priests.

‘They’re literally high-grade personnel, after all.’

Priestly treatment had the effect of restoring vitality and reducing pain. Therefore, despite the expensive cost, nobles preferred treatment from priests.

‘Azel unexpectedly takes good care of his people.’

Although he had no faith in people and didn’t know how to show affection, Azel knew how to look after his subordinates in matters like this.

While I was looking at Azel with warm eyes, the Village Chief, unaware of these inner workings, became frightened just looking at Azel’s expression.

“Well, since this is a small village, we don’t have any priests capable of treatment. However, we do have a priest here – shall I bring him over?”

At the news that there was no priest, Azel’s mood sank even further.

‘He’s going to such lengths for Linoa Marigold!’

Unlike me, whose eyes sparkled with unexpected emotion, Linoa Marigold just watched Azel’s reactions as if something seemed strange.

“I’ll, I’ll bring him right away.”

Anyway, following the Village Chief’s guidance, we went to find the physician and were able to receive appropriate first aid.

Throughout the process of thoroughly disinfecting the wound and wrapping bandages around her shoulder, Azel sat quietly with his robe’s hood pulled deep over his head, keeping his mouth shut.

Sitting beside him and quietly watching Linoa Marigold’s treatment process, I still didn’t notice anything particularly strange.

But at that moment, he suddenly spoke to me.

“You?”

“Yes?”

“Are you okay?”

It was completely out of the blue.

“Me?”

What was supposed to be okay? Who could understand when he cut off all the context and asked like that?

As I just blinked at his incomprehensible words, Azel pointed at the physician with a strained expression.

“Though it won’t be as good as a priest, you should at least be able to get medicine to manage the pain.”

“Pain?”

When I wasn’t even hurt anywhere, why would I need that?

“No. I don’t have any pain or anything. I’m fine!”

I only refused to mean I was okay, but Azel’s expression was somehow strange.

“You don’t have to force yourself to hide it.”

“I’m not hiding anything though?”

For some unknown reason, the atmosphere became even more chilly.

“…Fine, do whatever you want.”

“…?”

With those words, he even stood up completely. I didn’t know what the problem was, but he seemed displeased with my answer.

“?????”

Naturally, I was just bewildered.

‘What are you, some sensitive and delicate middle school student going through puberty? Why are you acting like this?’

Anyway, I hurriedly got up to stop Azel, but because I moved too suddenly, my feet got tangled.

“Ah!”

“Be careful!”

Just as I was about to fall forward, Azel caught me in his arms.

‘Cr-crazy!’

My heart started pounding uncontrollably again, making me panic without realizing it.

Suddenly, I felt a burning gaze from above my head.

“And you say you’re fine while doing this.”

When I unconsciously lifted my head up, what I faced were heavily sunken red eyes.

“A-Azel?”

“When you can’t even properly control your own body. You say you’re fine.”

“…Wh…what? I, I’m really fine though?”

“What’s fine about it.”

“…Yes?”

“What’s always so fine about you, always.”

His voice, spat out as if chewing on the words, was filled with spite. As if he held some grudge against the words asking if I was okay, each word was tinged with resentment.

‘Has the cooldown for his episodes already reset? Why is he like this again?’

As I gaped speechlessly in disbelief, Azel’s red-rimmed eyes suddenly came into my view.

“Huh?”

Only then did I realize something was strange.

Azel wasn’t angry.

‘Could he be acting like this because he’s worried about me?’

Despite his angry-sounding voice, Azel’s expression looked like he was about to cry.

‘Could it be that he was crying earlier because of me too?’

My first thought was, has this guy lost his mind? But at the same time, the area around my heart felt ticklish.

‘No, why are you worried about me?’

I suddenly noticed that Azel’s face was too close to mine.

“If it hurts, just. Say that it hurts.”

As my pathetic face reflected in Azel’s red eyes, moisture gathered again in the eyes that held my image.

‘Uh oh, this is a bit?’

Dangerous, isn’t it?

My heart immediately dropped with a thud.

“Ah.”

“Elpis?”

When I unconsciously clutched at the fabric over my chest, Azel’s eyes wavered.

“What’s wrong. Why there? Does it hurt? Can’t you breathe?”

This was the first time I’d seen Azel like this.

Azel, not knowing what to do and asking about my condition. This was surely a very precious scene.

However, right now I couldn’t see any of that at all.

‘This is insane.’

Because of the warning lights going off in my head, I was already completely out of my mind.

Unfortunately, something was about to start inside me right now.

“I need medicine.”

I immediately pushed away Azel’s touch.

“Elpis?”

This won’t do. This absolutely cannot happen.

“You’re right. I must be sick. Because otherwise this doesn’t make sense.”

After that firm denial, I approached the physician with heavy, rough steps.

“Please give me some medicine, doctor.”

“Y-yes?”

The physician, who had already been glancing this way like Linoa Marigold, stammered in confusion.

“Wh-where does it hurt,”

“My head. No, my chest. No, both my head and chest.”

“What?”

“Think of it as saving someone’s life, and please prescribe something with the fastest and strongest effect.”

The physician looked perplexed at my nonsensical request.

But I’m sorry, this is a genuinely desperate situation.

“Sorry, but there’s no time to be shocked. Move, move! Now!”

“Mo, mo- what?”

“I think I’m going crazy right now. I’m not in my right mind!”

My heart racing from looking at Azel – I really wasn’t in my right mind.

‘I’ve completely lost it!’

Just as I pulled my head back to bang it against the wall, two pairs of hands immediately grabbed me as if to stop me.

“Why, why are you doing this-!”

“Let go! Let go of me! I need to come to my senses, right now!”

“Lady Elpis! Why are you doing this! Please calm down!”

If the startled Linoa hadn’t grabbed my forehead and held on, I would have nearly made quite an unsightly spectacle.

“Ah, let go of meeee-!”

Of course, it was already quite unsightly.

Anyway, the crazy person wasn’t Azel.

“Aaaahhh!”

“N-no, Lady Elpis, you can’t!”

Thud-!

The one who was really crazy was me.

*

Simoer walked through the corridor as usual, waiting for his master to return.

“Master is taking longer than expected.”

Just then, someone who had approached without a sound spoke to Simoer.

“It seems he has walked quite far indeed.”

Simoer’s dimples deepened at Ron’s presence, who had approached with movements more stealthy than an assassin despite not being one.

As his habitual gentle smile formed on his smooth face, Ron also responded with a warm smile.

“More importantly, what brings you here?”

“The capital’s movements seem unusual – I wondered if you had any thoughts on it.”

“Well. Master only told me to watch, so I’m simply waiting for the next order.”

That day, after Azel’s attack, the movements of the Imperial Court and Temple had been quite unusual, as if some agreement had been made.

It wasn’t the Emperor, who naturally trembled at just hearing the name Viotz, but the Second Prince who had newly taken the Crown Prince’s position was the problem.

They had even formed a subjugation force, saying they could no longer overlook Azel Viotz’s evil deeds.

“Such youthful vigor is frightening indeed.”

At Ron’s behavior of mockingly dismissing such childish antics with a sentimental tone, Simoer smiled brightly once again.

“But this is the first time I’ve seen you show such concern – is there a reason?”

The person Ron was concerned about.

This naturally wasn’t about Azel.

“Well. She’s just quite an eye-catching person, isn’t she.”

Ron wasn’t one to worry just because the Imperial Court and Temple joined hands to strike at Azel. There was no reason to fear them no matter how they struggled in the first place.

Therefore, the reason Ron had come to find Simoer like this was different.

“Unlike the Imperial Court, the Temple is paying more attention to Lady Elpis. They’re moving with the Holy Maiden at the center, so it seems we should prepare.”

As his shrewd eyes gleamed sharply, Simoer’s eyes curved beautifully.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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