9 - I Healed the Male Lead's Trauma
Episode 9
2. Even Extras Need Obsession (4)
"And there seems to be a misunderstanding. I just said to keep your distance because I don't want to get involved in other people's family affairs."
"Is that so? How did you find out about those family affairs, anyway?"
Akteon, who had approached, felt threatening, unlike his initial impression.
'He's still young to be called a Saint, but he's already this big.'
High-ranking Transcendent Beings generally have bodies that are far more developed than ordinary people.
Their bodies grow to be suitable for efficient use of magic.
When such a being cast a long shadow over my head, I felt a chill.
'He probably hasn't even had his First Manifestation yet at this time.'
He'll probably go through his First Manifestation soon.
And before long, he'll even have his Second Manifestation upon entering Estra Academy.
'His grade will definitely be S-class, which can't even be compared to my B-class.'
I felt a sense of despair.
With everything flowing according to the original story, will I really be able to survive after Akteon's Second Manifestation?
Unlike the bright hallway, his black bangs seemed to have lost their color.
Through them, his silver-gray irises, devoid of the smile I saw during the day, glared at me.
"Tell me. How did you know?"
But something was strange.
I hadn't noticed it until now because it hadn't been very obvious.
'Is he just tired?'
No, that's not something I should be concerned about.
Instead of unconsciously stepping back, I looked up at him.
'I was complacent.'
The incident in which Claire and her guide died was the cause of Akteon's trauma.
That guide was the only person who had been kind to Akteon, who was born a bastard.
But I had carelessly spoken about it without knowing Akteon was there.
'If I had known you were here, I wouldn't have said anything rashly.'
What's the point of arguing in my head?
It's not like Akteon can read minds.
Standing before the sensitive guy, I tried to talk calmly, pretending not to know much about the matter, as if I didn't understand.
"An S-class Transcendent Being, someone so prominent that they even graduated early, was suddenly announced to have died in battle. Wouldn't it be stranger if no rumors were circulating?"
It was better to reveal it moderately than to hide it clumsily.
Like most other Evolved Beings, Claire is a graduate of Estra Academy.
Moreover, she was the youngest student to enter and graduate early.
A promising figure who could be called a genius.
The news that such a prominent figure had suddenly died in battle shocked everyone. Wild rumors, ranging from the appearance of another S-class monster in the enemy country to the rumor that Claire had actually committed suicide, swept through the school.
"If you remove the truly absurd rumors, you can surprisingly come up with plausible speculations."
Moreover, Kashiel's leave of absence added fuel to the fire, and the speculative rumors about Claire Brondearne did not subside easily.
I wanted to take advantage of this.
'It's dangerous to act like I know too much.'
Akteon is a smart guy.
He'll see through any lies quickly. The best thing to do was to mix truth and rumors appropriately to get through the situation.
"It's an incident that shouldn't be mentioned carelessly, but I might be in a similar situation, so shouldn't I be able to be this careful?"
"A similar situation?"
"Even if the grade is different… she was an Awakened Being of a similar age to me. I mean, I think it would be terrible if I were recklessly sent to the front lines at this age and ordered to kill the enemy."
Akteon was silent for a moment, then said something as if he were talking to himself.
"Even though that's the duty of an Evolved Being? And it doesn't seem like a suitable excuse for meddling in other people's family affairs."
That's… true.
I showed a hint of apology for that part.
But that didn't mean I agreed with Akteon's words.
"Even if it's a duty, wouldn't normal parents try to hold them back rather than push them to the front lines? I'm sorry, but I don't think the Duke would be that kind of person."
"……."
Even though the future is predetermined that Akteon will kill me.
'That doesn't mean it's smart to be at odds with this guy.'
Born as a bastard, raised without proper affection under the pressure of becoming a prospective Transcendent Being.
Akteon was also a victim of this country that oppresses Evolved Beings.
When I hit the nail on the head, Akteon became quiet. But I couldn't rest assured.
"I'll do anything to protect myself and my brother. That's why I told you not to get involved with my family. The Duke and the other young masters seem to want that too. Did I do anything wrong?"
The words had already spilled out.
The words I just uttered were nothing short of a gamble.
Even if I'm just a student, such remarks can be regarded as a challenge to the authority of the nobility, and it wouldn't be strange if my head were to be cut off right away.
But Akteon won't report me.
I was sure that he wouldn't convey my words to the Duke or do anything else.
"Apart from this, I'm sorry for rashly bringing up the death of your family. I apologize."
The gaze that had been fixed on my face as if to pierce through it finally fell away.
It sounded like he was sighing.
I don't know if it was in a good or bad way.
"For now, yes. I understand what your position is."
Thankfully….
'Did I get through it okay?'
He seemed less angry than before.
I'm glad he understood. But I couldn't let my guard down.
"But I think you were reckless. If my brother or father had heard you, this sponsorship would have been canceled."
Well, that's…
"I don't care?"
"What did you say?"
"I'll say it again, I'm sorry for speaking rashly about the dead family. But we don't want to put our heart and soul into a place that doesn't treat us like people either."
As I spoke, I unconsciously put strength into the last sentence.
Akteon's eyes widened.
"We never…."
"Don't say you didn't. You've treated us like we were invisible since we came to the mansion, and your brother and the Duke…. I can't say anything since I saw it myself, right?"
Even the maid who was assigned to attend to me regarded me too casually, so it was all said and done.
Of course, I don't intend to say even this much.
Just as I was flustered a moment ago, this time it was Akteon.
He seemed to realize how rude his actions had been, and my words seemed to have quite an effect on him.
'I've said everything I wanted to say….'
Should I cut it off and go back to my room?
'Hiakin must be worried.'
But even after passing Akteon, the distance between me and him didn't get any farther.
It was because Akteon was following me.
"……."
"……."
Perhaps because there were many members of the mansion wandering around at this time, not a single servant was seen crossing the long hallway.
In other words, Akteon and I were suddenly playing tag, chasing each other alone.
The first to stop was me.
"Do you have anything else to say?"
I don't want to be alone with Akteon, of all people.
I guess anyone would want to avoid being alone with the person who's going to kill them.
"One thing."
But it didn't seem like Akteon was.
"I wanted to correct one misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding?"
"First of all, I didn't treat you like you were invisible. I just…."
Akteon, who paused for a moment to choose his words, said.
"I didn't want to get close to you."
What is this….
'What is he talking about?'
Could it be that he fell in love with me at first sight? It's a common trope.
'No, that doesn't seem to be it.'
I quickly thought, pretending not to know how to react to Akteon's words.
And before long, I could guess what he meant.
"Aren hyung is…."
Akteon, who unconsciously mentioned someone, flinched and closed his mouth.
With just that one word, I was able to figure out why Akteon was trying to ignore me.
"You don't have to say it if it's difficult to talk about."
That person was Claire's guide.
The guide who died because he couldn't stop her rampage.
Knowing that someone close to him had died like that, what did Akteon feel when he first saw me?
'He must have thought I might end up in a similar situation, right?'
The Duke even said that if my grade was just a little higher, he would have included me as a member of the family.
'In fact, I'm not safe even now. If Hiakin Awakens, I, his only family, will become a good weakness to manipulate Hiakin.'
So, was that why he was trying to keep a distant relationship with me?
That I might end up in a similar situation to Claire's guide?
It seemed like he was jumping to conclusions, but there was enough reason to do so.
But just as I was about to retort that I didn't particularly want to get close either.
"Akteon?"
Akteon, who had looked uncomfortable for a while, suddenly staggered. I reflexively grabbed his arm to support him as he was about to fall.
At the same time, I was startled.
'Why, why is this happening now…?'
Akteon doesn't know how to sense magic yet.
He's just unaware of it himself, and his heart and the magic in the air we breathe are only faintly recognizing and reacting to each other.
But.
'Why does it feel like the surrounding magic is rushing towards him?'
As if it had found an easy prey to devour.
The surrounding magic was concentrating on Akteon.
On the surface, Akteon seemed to be feeling only a slight dizziness and fatigue, like he was suffering from a simple cold.
'Could this be….'
I couldn't help but be shaken.
In order to become a student at the academy, one must go through the First Manifestation. That was the admission requirement.
The First Manifestation is the stage when a Transcendent Being or guide finally begins to sense the surrounding magic.
But.
'This, these are the symptoms of the First Manifestation?'
The symptoms Akteon is experiencing right now are exactly that.
