The Extra Saved the Terminally Ill Princess and Ran Away - Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Confession (5)

***

Lilisiana Yekaterina stopped dead in her tracks, a shocking sight unfolding before her eyes.

"Berry…?!"

The boy, who had thrown himself in front of her to protect her from the monstrous beast, was now lying crumpled on the ground.

She rushed to his side, but his condition was dire.

His left arm, already injured from the earlier encounter with the smaller monster, was now beyond repair, a devastating blow for a swordsman who relied on his arms and agility.

And that wasn't all.

A gaping wound in his abdomen, oozing blood, formed a growing pool on the ground.

"Hey! Berry!! Wake up, Berry!!"

She called out to him desperately, but he remained unresponsive, the light fading from his eyes.

She pleaded with him, urging him to wake up, asking him what he was doing, reminding him that a top scorer shouldn't be lying here like this.

But her desperate cries didn't reach him. His red eyes dimmed, losing their light.

Was I losing another person who sacrificed themselves for me?

So helplessly.

So pointlessly.

She had worked so hard, pushing herself to the limit, to become the strong, capable Princess he had envisioned.

And yet, she was still so far from that ideal.

Just as she was consumed by self-loathing and regret, the boy suddenly sat up.

"B-Berry?! You shouldn't move in your condition…! Berry…?"

Her voice was filled with disbelief.

Just moments ago, he had looked like a corpse, his condition so dire that anyone would have shaken their head in pity.

Yet, he sat up, as if nothing had happened, dusting himself off,

Then he began walking.

Towards the monstrous beast lurking in the shadows behind her.

-Whoosh.

The air shifted as he moved.

The oppressive, suffocating atmosphere that had enveloped them retreated in fear, replaced by a warm, comforting presence, swirling around her like a protective barrier.

The air he commanded, the aura he exuded, was completely different.

Before collapsing, he had radiated a cold, predatory aura, like a snake waiting to strike.

But now, he was like an impenetrable fortress.

She was stunned by his sudden transformation.

He opened his eyes, and the dullness was gone, replaced by a brilliant golden light, brighter than his usual red eyes.

Eyes are the windows to the soul, they say. And his eyes burned with a fierce intensity, as if his very soul was ablaze.

Thud.

He walked towards the darkness, his steps steady and resolute, devoid of any hesitation.

Like a seasoned warrior, who had overcome countless battles.

Thud.

As he advanced, the darkness retreated, as if in fear.

He looked up at the retreating darkness, his gaze accusatory.

She blinked, still unable to process what was happening.

Then, he vanished from her sight.

Was she hallucinating? She wondered, but the question was quickly answered.

He reappeared right in front of the darkness.

And then, he drew a line with his sword.

She couldn't describe it any other way.

He had literally drawn a golden line in the darkness.

Slash.

A tearing sound, followed by a heavy thud.

The darkness, the monstrous beast that had threatened them, was split in two.

The trees above them rustled, falling to the ground.

The canopy that had blocked the sunlight was gone, revealing the boy bathed in sunlight.

He turned and looked at her, his eyes filled with a strange, distant longing, as if reminiscing about a forgotten memory.

Then, he smiled at her, the same warm smile she remembered, and collapsed, his strength finally giving out.

"Berry!!"

He had achieved a feat worthy of legendary heroes, splitting the sky with his sword.

Of course, he had only cut down the trees, but still, he had cleaved through the oppressive darkness that had enveloped them.

She rushed towards him, fearing that he had burned away the last embers of his life force.

Fearing that he was on the verge of death.

As she reached his side, he whispered, his voice barely audible,

Perhaps he was delirious, mistaking her for a figment of his imagination.

"Your Highness…"

"Why… Why did you go so far…? Why did you push yourself to this point…?"

She couldn't understand.

She was the Imperial Princess. He could have gained favor and rewards by saving her.

But was it worth risking his life? Even she would have hesitated.

Even if he claimed he was protecting someone he fell in love with at first sight, she would have been skeptical.

Only one person in this world would be foolish enough to trade their life for someone they barely knew, and that person was the attendant she longed for.

He opened his mouth to answer, and her breath hitched, her eyes widening in surprise at his unexpected words.

"Because I promised…"

"…Huh?"

His tone was calm and matter-of-fact. He didn't seem to be lying, and in this situation, there was no reason to lie.

Then to whom? And why?

Those were the questions that filled her mind.

Who had he made a promise to, a promise that compelled him to risk his life for her?

And what reward had been offered, a reward that made him accept such a promise?

"I promised… to protect Your Highness… in his stead…"

His red eye, now the only one emitting light, seemed to offer an explanation, but it only deepened her confusion.

He couldn't possibly know the questions in her mind, and his answer only amplified her doubts.

Then, he said,

"So, I'm glad I was able to protect you this time, Your Highness."

"…What?"

He closed his eyes, the golden light fading, and lost consciousness.

Her jewel-like eyes, now clouded with unanswered questions, darted around, searching for answers that weren't there.

***

Inhale. Exhale.

I could hear my own breathing.

'So I made it back safely.'

I opened my heavy eyelids, revealing a Baroque-style ceiling and white curtains surrounding me.

I knew where I was, but I still couldn't resist saying,

"Ah… an unfamiliar ceiling."1

So this was how that pathetic protagonist felt.

Just as I uttered that famous anime line, a melodious voice, like a church bell, reached my ears.

"You're awake, Knight Department's Berry."

I flinched.

If this were Earth, I would have died of embarrassment, but this world was different.

Such chuunibyou lines weren't out of place here.

I turned to see the source of the voice.

Platinum blonde hair, cascading down to her waist like a curtain, shielding her figure from view.

Topaz-like eyes, the color of a clear blue ocean, reflecting her purity and innocence.

Her features were striking, each one individually beautiful.

And her figure…

Gulp.

"Oh my, such a reaction the moment you wake up… I'm glad you're feeling better."

She smiled warmly, looking down at me in the hospital bed.

"Grace."

"…Is this the second time we've met since the entrance ceremony?"

Second time for you, maybe. But I've seen you countless times in the story.

Grace, a fellow freshman, the top scorer of the Divine Arts Department.

She would awaken as a Saintess towards the end of the first year.

And…

'The only character in this world with the ability to resurrect the dead, and therefore, the unfortunate victim of the NTR route.'

I couldn't let this walking, talking, top-tier healing potion die for such a stupid reason.

She was a crucial element in suppressing the Demon King.

So, I looked at Grace, her benevolent gaze fixed on me, and said,

"…I'd like to have a word with you."

Translator Note

This is a common trope found in many forms of media. It typically occurs when a character undergoes a tumultuous event, loses consciousness, and then wakes up in an unfamiliar environment. Often, this signals a major turning point. In this particular case, it refers to Neon Genesis Evangelion. The line is spoken by Shinji Ikari, the main character. Why is Shinji catching strays? I don’t know, but I approve!

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