15 - I Healed the Male Lead's Trauma
Episode 15
3. The Second Male Lead Needs an Extra (4)
This country did not restrict religion, but the majority of its people worshiped the god of love and peace.
This cathedral was also built for that god.
It's ironic that a country that utilizes Evolved Beings as efficiently as weapons worships the god of love and peace.
But as much as it held that position, the cathedral was the pride of the nation's capital and held a kind of symbolism.
People constantly visited to pray for family members going to war, and the funerals of fallen soldiers were also held here.
Because of that, going to the cathedral usually meant one of two things.
One was to go purely to offer prayers.
The other was.
'To go and clean the tombstones of the victims enshrined in the basement and grounds of the cathedral.'
Hiakin and I were the latter.
Prince Isidor excused himself, saying he had someone to meet with his aide.
As the most talkative prince disappeared, the atmosphere naturally quieted down.
I, who had become less talkative, as well as Hiakin, had fallen silent before I knew it.
I deliberately spoke to soothe my depressed brother.
"Anyone would think you're a stone statue. Why are you so stiff?"
"It's not exactly a pleasant place."
"That depends on how you think about it."
When I patted Hiakin's back, his face, which had been tense, finally relaxed a little.
I took Hiakin and moved to the place where our parents' tombstones were erected, recalling the past.
When we were young, we grew up in a small to medium-sized city near the eastern border, not the capital.
'A place that is now in ruins and can never be returned to.'
The war to seize the magic stones of the Great Forest.
When the magic of a powerful Transcendent Being swept through the city, only Hiakin and I barely survived from our family.
After that, all my childhood memories were of doing all sorts of odd jobs in other cities to feed Hiakin.
Then, I accidentally had my First Manifestation and entered the academy, and Hiakin was also recognized for his high potential for manifestation and received support from Lorraine.
Thanks to my manifestation, our parents' tombstones were also able to be enshrined in the cathedral.
But.
'After entering the academy, I realized the reality of the Evolved Beings, and Hiakin was suffering alone in Lorraine.'
We had occasionally gone to offer our own short prayers, but this was almost the first time we had come to see our deceased parents together.
'I have to survive well and come again next year.'
As I was guided by the priest to the back of the cathedral, I glanced around for Akteon.
Akteon, who had no idea what I was worried about, was looking around.
'Is it because Kashiel might be here?'
As a high-ranking noble, Brondearne was likely to have dead family members enshrined here.
Especially Kashiel's twin, Claire.
'An S-class Transcendent Being who was treated as a fallen soldier, she would definitely be here.'
I was about to tell Akteon to meet later if he wanted to when Akteon turned to me.
No, to be exact, to behind me.
At the same time, the back of my head tingled, and I heard a sharp, edgy voice.
"...You, why are you here?"
Could there be anyone other than Kashiel who would call me so aggressively?
'Why does it have to be him? Why is he still here?'
Unable to hide my discomfort, I turned to see Kashiel standing there, ready to devour me at any moment.
Afraid of a conflict, I first grabbed Hiakin's hand tightly.
I could feel Hiakin, who was about to jump out immediately, suppressing his anger.
"I didn't expect you to be here, Brother."
Akteon greeted him calmly.
However, Akteon had long been out of Kashiel's mind.
Fixing his fierce gaze on me, Kashiel sneered.
"Why? Am I not allowed to be here?"
"...Brother."
"I didn't expect you of all people to come here. And with such a low-class guy."
"That kind of remark is not good for you either, Brother."
"You better know your place, Akteon Brondearne."
Kashiel retorted with a smirk, and Akteon's brow twitched.
"You wouldn't want to go through the same experience again, would you?"
It was a sound that not only poked at the wound but also sliced it with a knife.
However, Akteon only closed his mouth for a moment, suppressing his emotions and retorting.
"Senior came here not because of Claire."
"How can I believe that? Just because this B-class did a little better, you must have told him everything that happened. You're easily swayed by sweet talk, just like you used to be."
A barrage of unbearable insults poured out.
It was so hard to listen to that I was just letting it flow out of one ear, but Akteon stepped forward.
And pulled me behind him.
"You will regret it greatly someday, Brother."
"...What?"
"Even I am still bothered by what happened a few days ago. You will be even more tormented."
Did something in that statement touch a nerve with Kashiel?
His expression became even more venomous.
However, Kashiel, who seemed ready to use his magic at any moment, did not easily attack Akteon.
Kashiel also knew.
Even though he had just gone through his First Manifestation, if he touched Akteon here, it could turn into an irreversible accident.
But this confrontation itself was threatening to Hiakin, who was now holding my hand tightly so that he could protect me at any time.
It was when some priests were approaching to stop the fight, sensing the unusual energy.
"It's not strange for a student to come to offer prayers."
Prince Isidor, who had been away, intervened, loosening the tense air.
Kashiel, who was about to make an aggressive remark to him without thinking, paused.
"You are..."
"Isn't your language too harsh? Kashiel Brondearne. I don't think you've understood what I meant just now."
"What is that..."
Kashiel had no way of knowing why Prince Isidor was here, and with us at that.
Therefore, Kashiel, who could not hide his confusion, looked back and forth between us and gritted his teeth.
Soon, he seemed to have noticed the unusual atmosphere.
"You know that your own wounds are painful, but you don't know that others are the same. You're only calming down now because I'm in a position of power, and if I were just a B-class like you said, you wouldn't be. Isn't that right?"
Kashiel squeezed out an answer as if asking what he was talking about.
"That's not true."
"Is that so? Then let me ask."
Prince Isidor, who had neatly resolved the situation, called my name.
"Liliop Ortiz. Why did you visit the cathedral today?"
To have to tell someone who doesn't even try to understand me like this, one by one.
'It's wasteful.'
Perhaps it was because I didn't have high expectations that he would apologize to me.
I didn't want to answer, but I couldn't ignore the prince's question.
I had no choice but to open my mouth.
"I came to clean the tombstones of my deceased parents. I'm ashamed to say that this is the first time my brother and I have come together."
Embarrassment spread across Kashiel's face at my answer.
It would be nice if it was even refreshing.
'He's not even worth it.'
The prince shrugged at Kashiel as if to say that the misunderstanding had been resolved.
However, judging from Kashiel's still distorted face, he didn't seem to give up easily.
Unless I drive a wedge in firmly at this time, he will continue to bother me.
"You've been doing this since before, but if I'm so annoying to you... should I just leave as you wish?"
I took a firm stance with an attitude of making things clear.
"That would be better. According to the Evolved Being Management Act, a sponsored person can report unfair treatment from the sponsoring family."
Fortunately, there is a guaranteed witness next to me, the Second Prince, so there is nothing more to ask for.
It would have been nice if Lorraine could have been dealt with in the same way, but she would have denied it and dragged out the trial.
It would have been better to cause an accident there, but not Brondearne.
So, this kind of threat was more appropriate for Kashiel.
It was none other than Glock Brondearne, the head of the Brondearne family, who decided to accept us.
It would be difficult to dare to go against this.
Akteon tried to persuade Kashiel, who was biting his lip.
"Brother."
"Who do you think you are, you bastard?"
Unlike Akteon's efforts, Kashiel did not give Akteon even a small gap to calm the situation.
'I was too lazy to explain that it was all your misunderstanding. Now that the words are out, I can't help it.'
The words I had been holding back for a while flowed out calmly.
"I know there's a misunderstanding about why I came here. I think it's possible."
According to what Kashiel said to Akteon a little while ago, the reason he's doing this is probably this.
He must have thought that I, who had gently coaxed Akteon, was trying to win Brondearne's favor by pretending to mourn Claire's death with a half-hearted heart.
Even if what he just said was true, he's doubting whether I really didn't have 'that' intention.
It is certain that Brondearne is a family with great influence in this country.
Anyone would say that.
Because each and every one of Brondearne's Transcendent Beings are called the demons of the battlefield and the miracle of Barmoth.
However, it was a very unpleasant misunderstanding for me.
To the extent that I had to bring up words that I didn't want to say.
"I know how much grief you're in. But you know what? Do you think it's presumptuous to blame you for something that might not be a misunderstanding? Because you're suffering from wounds that others don't know about?"
"What are you saying..."
"Have you ever picked up and eaten the corpse of a dead rat because you had nothing to eat, even though you knew it was dirty?"
Kashiel was speechless at the unexpected words.
I didn't want to compare myself to him in this way, saying that I was more unhappy than him, but my mouth was bitter.
"What?"
"Have you ever tried to escape from the middle of a city collapsing under the attack of Transcendent Beings?"
"What are you talking about!"
"Or even the experience of losing your family... Ah, you'll sympathize with this one."
"What do you know!"
"I know."
Silence fell.
The voices of people who came to pray and the footsteps of those who came to face the dead.
In the midst of everything being a jumble of noisy sounds, a cold silence fell around this area.
"I still tried my best to live well. Because parents who close their eyes leaving their children behind would be heartbroken, and they would be even more saddened to see their children withering away because of that."
So I can't not know. I know it too well, and I hate it.
Kashiel could no longer say anything in response to my words.
He just vaguely opened and closed his lips, repeating that he couldn't say anything.
"In comparison, your grief, unlike mine, will be recognized even if you don't prove it one by one. It's quite luxurious. And selfish."
"......"
There was no need to continue the conversation.
I led Hiakin, who was still holding my hand, and added one last thing.
"Then I'll be on my way. I'll be back as soon as I finish my work, so don't be too angry."
As I left the place, I felt much relieved.
To be honest, I felt very bad.
'That's why I couldn't like Kashiel in the original story either.'
Kashiel needed the kindness to melt those wounds, so Milia became his salvation.
'But not me.'
My life was too fierce to be kind.
