The Academy Guard with a Terminal Illness - Chapter 16

The situation was safely concluded.

The noisy morning classes ended, and it was lunchtime.

The students each decided on roles and were preparing lunch.

Since we had properly set up the barrier against monsters, there would be no surprise attack like in the morning. Still, we remained vigilant.

“You were here. Try tasting this.”

Sonia handed over a small plate and spoon. It was steaming soup.

Blowing on the soup to cool it down, I drank it slowly.

Savoring the taste, I nodded.

“It’s good.”

“Really…?”

Though Sonia didn’t show it, her lips twitched. Judging by her reaction, it seemed she had cooked it herself.

“So, how was it today?”

Not immediately understanding the intent of the question, I hesitated, and Sonia added.

“I mean my skills. In your opinion, how were my skills?”

Ah, she was talking about the fight she showed in the morning.

I pondered.

Sonia was remarkable. She possessed immense magical power and stable control, mastery of spells, courage, and more—all perfectly balanced with no excess.

Compared to other students and the mages I’ve fought on the battlefield, even I could see how skilled she was.

Even as a student, showing such advanced skills, it made me wonder how much more she would grow. It might be immature of me, but I felt a bit jealous.

Still, I chose to acknowledge it cleanly rather than be consumed by jealousy.

“You were impressive. I didn’t expect you to fight so well.”

“Hmm~”

Sonia put her hands into her pockets.

She was facing forward, her face slightly flushed.

Upon receiving the compliment, she became shy, dropping her usual bold demeanor.

Finding her new expression refreshing, a smile lingered on my lips.

“But….”

As I was about to add something, Sonia’s expression immediately fell.

“You lack experience. You made a rookie mistake by turning your back on a monster after defeating an enemy. I noticed a few other minor issues too.”

I proceeded to point out several mistakes she made today, along with a cool evaluation.

Her face showed displeasure with each word of criticism.

Sonia pouted, grumbling in her defense.

“Stop, I get what you’re saying, so stop it. Honestly, I thought I was done for. Who would’ve thought it’d still be alive after being cut in half.”

“A moment of carelessness leads to death. There’s no point in regretting after you’re dead. So, are you going to keep making excuses even after you die?”

Unyielding, I retorted, and she pouted slightly.

From her speechlessness, I assumed she recognized I had a point.

“Is your magic water-based?”

“Yes.”

“I saw you freeze a monster before. Why didn’t you use that technique?”

“Oh, that… It consumes a lot of magical power, so I rarely use it.”

“When the monster tried to attack you at the end, but then froze in midair—did you control the monster’s blood?”

Upon my keen observation, Sonia’s eyes widened slightly.

“You figured that out after seeing it once? You’re quite something too.”

Sonia conceded gracefully and explained.

“Yes. I can control all water. Blood is essentially water, so I can control it.”

“But it’s not a convenient technique, right?”

“Right. It consumes a lot of magical power. Also, controlling the blood of a monster or person varies with their capability. But I can control the blood of someone weak like you, so it’s better not to underestimate me.”

After finishing her explanation, Sonia went quiet.

Glancing at her, I noticed her casting her eyes down with a calm expression.

“Does my magic make you uncomfortable?”

There was a hint of anxiety in her voice.

I understood why she felt down.

It happens on battlefields sometimes.

Depending on the magic, one becomes an object of avoidance among people. The more dangerous the power, the more anxious people become about potential harm to themselves.

Human bodies contain water, and blood circulates.

Since Sonia could manipulate a person if she wanted, her water-controlling magic was versatile and powerful, depending on the opponent.

Even though it was condition-limited.

She must know the potential danger of her own magic well and wouldn’t find it surprising if people found it intimidating.

Yet, having seen far more astonishing magic on battlefields, it was just one of many to me.

I chuckled lightly.

“Don’t be conceited, Sonia. There are far greater magics all over the world.”

Sonia’s expression brightened.

She smiled and nudged my side with her elbow.

“No need for bravado. If I go all out, you won’t even touch me.”

“Really?”

“Of course. If you don’t believe me, spar with me sometime.”

“I’ll pass. I don’t bother with matches where the outcome is obvious. Here, take this.”

As I was about to hand Sonia the empty plate, I flipped the spoon and placed it against her neck.

Caught off guard, Sonia couldn’t react to my sudden move.

If it had been a real sword and a real fight, her neck would’ve been cut.

Seemingly aware of this, I heard her gulp.

I chuckled.

“One win for me.”

Sonia glared.

“That’s unfair.”

“Life or death battles are unfair. You need more experience in one-on-one scenarios too.”

Removing the spoon, I handed it back along with the empty plate.

“Fine. Lunch will be ready soon, so don’t go far.”

With a grumble, Sonia rejoined the group.

In a fair match, my chances of beating her were slim.

I succeeded because it was a sneak attack.

It was all due to her lack of experience. But with time, that would naturally resolve itself.

No need to rush. I hope she realizes that.

◆

After lunch, we separate into groups of commoners and nobles for the afternoon.

I’m in charge of the nobles.

Sonia seems a bit disappointed to be away from me, but it can’t be helped.

More importantly…

“It’s been a while. We’re seeing each other for the first time since then, right?”

Aria stood beside me.

With fewer eyes on us, she approached and spoke to me.

“Yes, it’s been a while. About what happened in the library… I’m sorry.”

Though it wasn’t my fault, I apologized out of courtesy.

Contrary to my expectation of her angrily demanding an explanation, she shook her head.

“No. You don’t have to apologize. It was my fault. I was so startled and acted rashly. Doing such a thing in a public place… ahem.”

Recalling that day, Aria cleared her throat awkwardly and continued.

“Let’s pretend nothing happened that day. It’d be better for both of us.”

Without showing it, I was a bit surprised.

I didn’t expect her to propose burying the incident peacefully.

At least she wasn’t trying to threaten me.

Unless her aim is to lull to me into a false sense of security and strike later?

It didn’t seem like a lie.

There’d be no reason to hassle a guard with such intricate plots. Is she really willing to let it go?

Her tone, manner, and atmosphere were all completely different from back then.

Perhaps, as she said, it was something done impulsively in a moment of shock.

Skeptical as I might have been, I chose to accept her words without further inquiries.

“Sure, let’s do that then.”

“But if the story spreads… I won’t let it slide, so keep that in mind.”

Leaving those chilling words, Aria walked away.

It wasn’t a simple warning. If rumors spread, she’d crush me silently.

A shiver ran down my spine.

Ed approached Aria.

Glancing at me once, he talked with her.

I hoped he spoke kindly about me.

“Yeah, let’s think positively since it ended well.”

Then a noble female student, walking steadily, suddenly staggered and collapsed.

The students, surprised, gathered around the fallen student.

We hurried over as well.

“What on earth happened?”

Upon a colleague’s question, it wasn’t necessary to ask.

Just looking at the fallen female student, I instantly grasped the situation.

Her complexion was pale.

Blood dripped from her eyes, nose, and mouth.

“I don’t know. She kept scratching her arm, and suddenly, she just collapsed. Why is this happening? Do something.”

The noble student was frantic, but we were perplexed as well.

Of course, such a thing would happen when the teacher was with the commoner group.

At my cue, a colleague dashed away.

As another was about to lift the fallen student, Aria intervened.

“Let me take a look.”

Calmly diagnosing the ill student, Aria removed her shirt.

Her right arm was severely swollen, with visible, hideous veins.

Inspecting the affected area closely, Aria nodded as if she understood.

As expected from the Asclepios family of the medical field.

“She’s been poisoned. I’ll perform first aid.”

Producing an antidote from her bag, Aria had the patient drink it.

Applying healing magic to the affected area.

The swift measures relieved the students somewhat.

‘It’s not having any effect.’

There was no sign of improvement.

In fact, as the condition worsened, Aria frowned.

Even trying other antidotes by pouring or applying them, nothing worked.

“Why isn’t anything working?”

As the situation showed no signs of improving, Aria’s demeanor changed.

“Let’s go back to the beginning—it’s definitely poison, but why is no antidote working? Did I use the wrong one? No, I did it correctly. Did I misdiagnose? That can’t be! Why isn’t it working? There can’t be an error. I must save her—”

Mumbling under her breath with uneasy eyes.

Her hands and shoulders trembled slightly.

It was unsettling, bordering on insanity.

Other students were worried.

Finding it odd that none of the antidotes worked, I took a closer look.

‘Huh? Could it be?’

I gently tapped Aria’s shoulder, and she turned irritably.

Though her gaze told me to stop bothering her, I pressed on.

“Do you have snow flower herbs and fern petals?”

“What?”

“Try crushing snow flower herbs and fern petals and apply them to the area. It should help.”

“Aren’t you aware that improper treatment can worsen the condition? Don’t meddle if you know nothing. Leave it to the experts. I’ll find a solution soon.”

Of course, she wasn’t about to heed my advice.

Understandably, she wouldn’t trust the word of a mere guard.

‘If left untreated, the poison will spread throughout her body and ultimately be fatal. Is there no other way…?’

I rummaged through her bag forcefully, which she tried to stop, but I had enhanced my body with magic.

Quickly finding the needed items, I crushed the herbs with my hand and applied them to the site.

Aria was startled, initially trying to wipe it off.

“Oh? It’s subsiding? How come?”

Seeing the swelling diminish, she halted.

I continued mixing and applying the necessary herbs and potions.

Soon after.

The ill student’s breathing stabilized.

Her complexion improved considerably.

“That completes the first aid. However, we can’t be complacent. She needs to be examined by a professional.”

Students’ views of me had changed.

Especially Aria was aghast until the teacher arrived.