Capítulo 313: Aftermath and Promise
"You're an idiot," Rachel said flatly, her hand hovering over my chest as light magic flowed from her palm, mending the damage I'd done to myself. The warmth of her mana spread through me, soothing the aches I hadn't even realized were there.
I leaned back slightly, trying to ease the discomfort. "Do I really have to be on your lap for this?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Her sapphire eyes narrowed, a look that could freeze a room. "Shut up," she snapped, though there was a faint blush creeping across her cheeks.
I bit back a chuckle, but a smirk crept onto my face anyway. Rachel noticed immediately.
"Are you finding this amusing, Arthur Nightingale?" she said in a tone that sent shivers down my spine. There's something uniquely terrifying about a woman using your full name, and Rachel wielded it like a blade.
"No, ma'am," I said quickly, doing my best to look contrite.
"Don't get cheeky with me," she replied, her voice sharp enough to cut through steel.
"At this rate, are you planning to take away all of my charm?" I teased, reaching up to twirl a strand of her golden hair around my finger. It was soft and silky, catching the light like spun gold.
"You're impossible," she muttered, exhaling heavily as if the mere act of dealing with me was exhausting. She wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead, her expression softening slightly as she checked the flow of her mana one last time.
"Alright," she said, leaning back and letting her magic fade. "You're healed now. Don't be an idiot next time."
"I'll try," I said with a lopsided grin. "But no promises."
Her eyes narrowed again, but this time there was no malice, just exasperation. "Why do I even bother?" she said, more to herself than to me. Then, with a huff, she stood and smoothed down her robes.
"Because you like me," I said, flashing her a grin as I sat up.
"Delusional," she shot back over her shoulder, though the corners of her lips twitched upward.
"And because you're my Saintess, Rachel," I murmured, pulling her close and whispering into her ear. Her cheeks flushed a deep red as she wrapped her arms around my neck, drawing me closer.
"It's unfair," she said, her voice a mix of teasing and frustration. "You make me wait, and then you do this, Arthur." Her words, combined with the blush staining her cheeks and the way we were positioned on the bed—with me leaning over her—had my own face heating up.
She smiled triumphantly, clearly enjoying my flustered expression, until I silenced her with a deep kiss.
"You know," she panted softly when we broke apart, her breath warm against my lips, "this really isn't the best time for this."
"Probably not," I admitted with a grin, brushing a strand of her hair from her face. "But I was your last patient, wasn't I?"
She nodded, her smile softening.
Just as the moment settled, I sensed someone approaching the door. Rachel began to speak, but I waved her off. "Relax. It's just Seraphina," I said confidently, not bothering to double-check the mana signature.
That turned out to be a mistake.
The door swung open to reveal Lucifer, not Seraphina. He froze in the doorway, his verdant eyes taking in the scene before him: Rachel and me, tangled on the bed in a clearly compromising position.
"I just wanted to check on both of you," Lucifer said stiffly, his tone devoid of emotion as his gaze flicked between us. His lips pursed before he turned on his heel. "Come out when you're… finished."
The door clicked shut behind him.
"Arthur!" Rachel hissed, mortified, burying her face in her hands.
"He's just jealous," I said with a shrug, trying to downplay the situation. Her exasperated sigh told me she wasn't buying it.
"You need to be less horny," she said, shooting me a withering look as she got off the bed, straightening her disheveled clothes.
"Blame my Saintess," I teased, earning a glare that could melt steel.
"At least we'll get a bit of a break from the war now," Rachel said as we stepped out of the room, her tone lighter than before.
"Oh? Why's that?" I asked, curious.
"The Slatemark Empire is sending reinforcements to the front. With them here, student conscription will end," she explained, a trace of relief evident in her voice.
'Finally,' I thought. It had been nearly a month since the war began—grueling weeks filled with endless battles and bloodshed. The prospect of reinforcements brought a glimmer of hope and, perhaps, a semblance of normalcy.
"Who are they sending?" I asked, hoping it was someone significant.
"Archduke Astoria," Rachel replied, her sapphire-blue eyes meeting mine.
My steps faltered, and my eyes widened in shock. 'Archduke Astoria?' The ninth-ranked individual in the world and one of the few Radiant-rankers. His presence alone could shift the entire balance of this war, let alone the reinforcements he'd undoubtedly bring.
"That's... impressive," I muttered, my mind racing.
Rachel turned to me, a hint of hesitation in her expression. "You'll be returning, right?" she asked softly.
Her gaze bore into me, filled with an emotion that was difficult to ignore. I nodded. "Yes, I'll return. I only joined this war to hone my skills and gain more experience. But now… it's time."
Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but the words didn't come. Instead, she lowered her gaze for a moment before glancing back up. "When?"
"After I scale the Wall, if the war is still going on," I replied, my voice firm. I needed that milestone to ensure I wasn't falling behind. In this life, I wasn't just chasing strength—I was chasing happiness. I wouldn't let myself lose sight of that.
Rachel's shoulders slumped slightly, and her expression dimmed. A sigh escaped her lips, tugging at my chest in an unexpected way. Without thinking, I reached out and ruffled her blonde hair, a playful smile tugging at my lips.
"Hey!" she protested, swatting my hand away. Her glare was sharp, but the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her indignation.
"You'll survive without me for a bit," I teased, though her reaction made my grin falter just a little.
"I always do," she shot back, her voice steady, though her eyes shimmered briefly before she looked away.
The weight of her words lingered in the air between us, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. It wasn't just about the war—it was about everything we'd endured and everything yet to come. And while the Slatemark reinforcements promised a reprieve, we both knew the battles ahead wouldn't be so easily won.
Before long, the rest of our forces began trickling back to the camp. Exhaustion was etched into their faces, but there was also something else—a quiet sense of triumph. Hwaeryun was ours again.
We had reclaimed the city.
The battered banners of Mount Hua, the Moyong family, and the Gu family were raised over the smoldering ruins of the battlefield, fluttering defiantly in the wind. Soldiers, bloodied but unbroken, trudged into the base, their armor scuffed and dented, their weapons still smeared with the remnants of the battle. Yet their eyes held a fierce light, the kind that came with the knowledge of a hard-fought victory.
The atmosphere was heavy with a mix of relief and weariness. The vampires and cultists had been driven out of Hwaeryun, and though the cost was steep, the victory felt monumental. This wasn't just a strategic win; it was a reclaiming of hope.
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