BIWMD 06

Chapter 6: Leave Me Alone! But No One Listened (6)

“…No, it’s just… I thought you were a bit too close.”

“Is that so?”

Yeah. Just like earlier—too close.

His gaze obsessively traced the wound, making my cheeks burn.

As I lowered my eyes slightly, he carefully inspected the ointment he had applied to my cheek. Then he set it down and picked up some medical tape.

“Hang in there. I’m almost done.”

“…Okay.”

‘Ah, that’s right.’

I suddenly remembered the change in group assignments. It would be better to mention it now to avoid trouble later.

“Right. I meant to tell you something.”

“Go ahead.”

“I’m not in the same group as you, Prince Behemoth.”

“…What?”

Ethan, who was holding my jaw while carefully applying the bandage over the thick layer of ointment, suddenly tensed.

“Ow.”

The sharp pain made it feel like my jaw was about to break. I let out a quiet groan and pushed his shoulder—this time, he actually backed off.

So you were resisting before? You jerk.

Ethan, looking surprised himself, hastily let go.

“…Sorry. Are you—”

“Are you really okay? Hello?”

I glared at Ethan Behemoth while rubbing my aching jaw, which had felt like it had been crushed.

Why the overreaction? Did he really want to be in the same group that badly?

What, are you trying to shatter my jaw in revenge like you did with that mirror?

“…You’ve been apologizing a lot today.”

“I was surprised. I thought we were in the same group.”

Ethan replied in a low voice while closing the lid on the magic ointment.

Even then, his gaze didn’t leave me.

He had been acting strange for a while now. It was almost like…

I squinted and looked him up and down, reluctantly replying.

“…I didn’t like how people were whispering about us, so I asked the Dean to switch me to the rear support group.”

“…So that’s why you came out of the Dean’s office earlier.”

“Yes. And look, they’re right over there.”

There had been some students whispering nearby for a while now, and they were really starting to annoy me, so I gestured at them with a jerk of my chin.

“Those ones, gossiping from a distance.”

The group of students flinched, clutched their magical tools to their sides, and quickly scurried away.

I couldn’t tell if they were startled by my glare or if it was Ethan Behemoth’s sharp gaze that scared them off.

Ethan turned his head and muttered.

“…I didn’t think you’d care about things like that.”

“Oh, that. Funny—Dean said the same thing. What kind of image do people have of me, anyway…?”

“You’re asking because you don’t know?”

“…Forget it. I’m not saying anything.”

I scoffed and shook my head. My image? Probably something like a stuck-up student who shows off magical skills inappropriate for her lowly status.

What exactly did Ethan Behemoth like about me?

Even if he had been busy, maybe I should have asked before we broke up. A hint of regret crossed my mind.

To be honest, I knew.

If I were truly a genius with heroic talent, I would never have had to go through such a grueling cycle of regressions.

Maybe I could have solved the mysterious curse surrounding my regression in one try and obtained everything I wanted.

But I couldn’t.

So I wondered if I was merely a mediocre talent—never able to reach heroic heights without going through hundreds of regressions, destined to die early otherwise.

A rare moment of self-awareness struck me.

But then… why had Ethan Behemoth taken an interest in me all of a sudden?

After thinking for a moment, he looked up at me and asked softly:

“So, did you get confirmation?”

“He said he understood.”

I gave a deliberately vague answer. If Ethan came looking for me during training or tried to intimidate someone else into switching groups, it’d be a mess.

I doubted he’d go that far, but with how sore my jaw still was, I decided to be cautious.

‘Why are you asking?’

I stared at him for a few seconds, trying to convey that question silently. Then Ethan Behemoth made a strange comment, as if he had reached some conclusion.

“…Then this is my only chance.”

“…Huh?”

Your only chance for what?

Just as I struggled to hide my confused expression, a soft breeze swept through my hair. It smelled faintly of flowers.

Ethan Behemoth straightened up, sat properly, and lowered his head slightly to make eye contact with me.

The atmosphere was… strange. Even I, as dense as I could be, noticed it.

As his face drew closer, I could see his expression clearly.

Calm. Blunt. And yet… a little excited.

His neat black hair fluttered gently in the breeze.

Yeah. This was just like a scene from a sweet romance novel.

‘…Ah.’

Okay, let’s admit it. He must have started liking me already. Don’t tell me… he had a crush on me since the Academy days?

What do I do? I didn’t think I’d end up rejecting Ethan Behemoth twice in a row.

If he confesses… how do I turn him down?

As I hesitated, Ethan Behemoth gently grabbed my hand and slid his fingers between mine, locking them tightly. His strong fingers pressed firmly against my uncalloused skin.

Then came a voice, warm and full of heat—it sounded just like the Ethan Behemoth I once knew.

“Edith Crowell. Let’s do it.”

…Do what?

“…Excuse me?”

I froze, startled. He wasn’t this bold before. Wait. At the Academy—

He slowly added,

“I want to spar with you.”

…Why not just say that in the first place?

Even with the clarification, it wasn’t exactly a statement that made much sense.

“You mean, you want to…”

“Yes.”

“…Spar with me?”

“You heard right.”

Stunned, I slapped the sides of my head a little.

Ethan Behemoth looked at me like I’d lost my mind.

“…What’s wrong?”

“I’m just wondering if I’ve gone insane.”

“You might have.”

“What are you even saying?”

“Haha.”

He chuckled—maybe thinking he was being funny—and for some reason, his slightly smiling face was tolerable enough to annoy me.

Why was I having sentimental thoughts while facing a kid?

Maybe I really had gone crazy after failing the regression.

I thought I saw the Dean smiling in the distance like an illusion.

‘Dean. Can you see this? Is this what you meant when you said I should try cooperating with a young wizard and knight?’

Right up to the part where he vanishes, laughing cheekily and telling me not to blame him if Prince Behemoth challenges me—that’s all in my imagination, but it was still maddening.

What experience? He’s not trying to cooperate—he’s literally trying to fight me!

I was ridiculous for even thinking of a confession. My ears burned.

So all that insistence about me joining the subjugation drill—was it just because he wanted to spar?

This damn battle freak.

“I refuse.”

“Why?”

“You really don’t know?”

“I don’t.”

Shameless. I take back what I said about him being just a kid.

Sure, in a past regression I once earned a shameful nickname for excessive slaughter, but even I didn’t compare to this guy.

They say geniuses are a little crazy.

For me, my madness changed with each regression as needed—but Ethan Behemoth? He was always the same.