Chapter 260

Chapter 260

"What happened here?" Kim Olim, who came to my hospital room at dawn, adopted a scary expression when she saw the Mage sleeping in my arms.

Actually, her scary expression wasn't the most frightening thing; one of her arms shone before a shield-her weapon-materialized in her hand. Worried that she may break the hospital room, I hurriedly shook my hands and made an excuse, "No, wait! There's a lot of complicated things going on here...!"

"......"

Unfortunately, at that moment, Seo Dawon burrowed his head into my naked chest which my unbuttoned top did nothing to hide.

Actually, I had been a little embarrassed ever since the gown had come undone a few hours ago; plus, the room was chilly. I tried to button myself up again, but I couldn't because the Mage was in the way. I was in the middle of trying to shake the Seo Dawon awake when Kim Olim walked in on us.

I could hardly bear to lift my flushed face and apologized to Kim Olim in a pleading voice, "That's...S-Sorry... However, don't misunderstand! It's only the buttons!"

"The buttons?"

"...I was hot, so I unbuttoned them a bit."

Kim Olim snorted, "Really? Then why are you cuddling Seo Dawon?"

"D-Don't you know? You guys are...really cool to the touch." I answered, turning my head away. How embarrassing-were these the best excuses I could concoct?

As expected, Kim Olim clicked her tongue as if she found me pathetic. Then, she vented her frustrations onto Seo Dawon, who still had his eyes closed. "How long are you going to pretend to be asleep and grope at Choi Lee-kyung?"

"...What?" I stared down at the Mage, dumbfounded.

Eyes still closed, Seo Dawon shamelessly said, "Don't you know that you're being a nuisance here, Olim-ah?"

"W-What! Seo Dawon...you!" I sputtered.

"Don't get me wrong. I woke up when the door opened." Despite the audience, the Mage kept leaning against me. I blinked at him, stunned...I was surprised to see a hitherto unseen expression on his face. How should I put this...The Mage looked like an office worker who didn't want to get out of bed and go to work...

I wanted to stay in this moment-to continue to hug him like this, but Kim Olim's gaze was so burdensome. I carefully pushed the Mage's head away.

Only then did Seo Dawon lift himself from my embrace. Then, out of nowhere, he rolled himself up like an ammonite shell and plastered himself to my back; the Mage lifted Lackey, who had been clinging to the back of my neck, and dropped the skeleton to the ground.

[Clack Clack!]

"What are you doing!?" I shrieked.

"I want you to be able to rest."

"What the..."

Lackey, whose sleep had been disturbed, stood up to try and bite at the Mage's feet; I stared at them, still dazed.

However, the Mage didn't stop there; he lightly took a hold of the skeleton and raised it up. He even ignored the skeleton's attempts to bite his arms. "Sleep well. I'll be back."

"...W-Wait a minute! Why are you carrying Lackey away?"

"Lackey should also earn the right to eat."

[Clack Clack Clack Clack!!!!]

Honestly...Lackey doesn't even eat food...

However, Seo Dawon vanished in a bright light immediately after waving his hand. I briefly contemplated summoning Lackey back, but I decided to leave them for now.

But...

"I think we'll need to talk for a long while. Necromancer."

"Haah..."

As soon as the two disappeared, the hospital room's atmosphere felt icy. I had no choice but to acquiesce and smile clumsily at the Paladin.

* * *

"I had definitely thought Seo Dawon's attack strategy had become more cautious, but... I didn't think he was so exhausted and weary-to the point he couldn't control his impulses."

I briefly explained to Kim Olim what had happened yesterday. (Though... I omitted things like the K...iss...and such for the sake of my dignity and her peace of mind.)

Kim Olim did not verbally express her agreement but listened to me very carefully while nodding her head. Then, she gave her own opinion. The issue, though, was that she was far more conservative than even Seo Dawon on matters of my safety.

She had admitted that the Mage was a bit excessive, but she did defend his assertions. "However, Necromancer, I don't think Seo Dawon was being overprotective. I think his judgment on the matters of your safety is correct."

"But... Seo Dawon thinks he's going to kill me?"

"If you're talking about his 'impulse for blood,' then I've felt it a few times as well. All the servants, probably, feel that desire to some extent." With that said, the Paladin stared at the torn skin on the back of my hand. It felt like the atmosphere in the room changed as she eyed my wound.

I was a little flustered-this was the first time that Kim Olim had reacted to my blood in my presence. Instinctively, I used my other hand to cover the wound; only then did the melancholy bloodlust that permeated the room subside.

In front of my anxiety-frozen self, the Paladin had stood with her eyes closed for a long time. Her complicated expression returned to normal after a moment; that abrupt change made my mind even more flustered.

The Paladin looked directly at me, "I was able to resist my impulses because Seo Dawon instructed me not to act according to instinct... You're too naive and narrow-sighted."

I was shocked and speechless. I had thought that Kim Olim would be the least likely person to hurt me.

However, I soon felt that the current situation was similar to Seo Dawon's. That was to say... It felt like she was intentionally scaring me into hiding away-retreating.

However, if Seo Dawon was the type to yield to me because of his affections, Kim Olim was the type to be more strict because of her affection for me.

'...What should I do?'

Still deep in contemplation, I stared at Kim Olim. Her face was stern-there were no gaps. Not even a crack. It was clear that any possible retort would be destroyed.

In the end, I answered frankly, "But... I've never thought that you'd hurt me. You're...I mean...You wouldn't suppress someone weaker than you."

Kim Olim opened her mouth briefly at my words, then clamped her mouth shut without saying anything. Then, she adopted a complicated expression before sighing deeply. "Of course, I'm someone that values honor, but... I haven't lived a noble life-not as much as you'd expect. I wasn't strong enough to not compromise my values."

"......"

"You seriously...think of me as some kind of knight. I appreciate it, but..." She looked at me as if she were looking at a child.

I couldn't understand her complicated expression. Scratching the back of my neck, I replied, "You are a knight though."

Kim Olim has always lived such a righteous life; I couldn't understand her denial of her character. Even the other guild members in [Red Lotus] agreed... Even a bastard like Bae Jaemin had said that he regretted being unable to sway Kim Olim to his side.

However, Kim Olim seemed surprised by my firm belief in her. Disconcerted, she asked, "Why do you think so highly of me? I've never done anything great in front of you."

Though the [Vengeful Ghost Memories] came to mind, I decided not to say anything. These memories weren't topics I ever wanted to discuss with the Servants.

However, Kim Olim must have assumed something-whatever it may be-from my brief silence. She scanned my face before eventually retreating one step. "...That's right. Even though I feel that urge, I have no desire to bite you. I agreed with Seo Dawon's order; that's why he and I always took turns staying by your side."

"That's what I thought." I smiled.

However, Kim Olim frowned at my smile. I knew what she would say when I saw the Paladin's expression. I was sorry to describe it as nagging, but that was the face she would make just before she went to nag at me.

The words that came out of her mouth was just absurd.

"However, putting aside me and Seo Dawon, you're still too un-vigilant. Not just Koo Hui-seo... But, for example, Jung Garam has bitten and licked at your skin." She suddenly started to pressure me by bringing up the Assassin.

"Yeah, but Jung Garam has always been mischievous..."

"The most worrisome part of all this is your easy-going nature-you think Jung Garam has a playful personality. Jung Garam isn't someone who jokes around often." With that said, she encouraged me to carry [Sylph's Fall] on me at all times. "Retrieve [Fall] from Seo Dawon again. If you're left alone with Jung Garam, and you're seriously hurt, you'll need it."

"I'm telling you, that's too much. I can't do that."

"You don't even need to swing it. It'll be enough to keep him in check." Kim Olim looked so serious.

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TL: That's...really scary. Kim Olim is so grave right now. Also, It's strange to see the way Kim Olim speaks about herself. I wonder what you guys think of her dynamic with Lee-kyung...and what she's said to him. In a way, I do think Kim Olim is someone Lee-kyung idolizes, but I would do the same???