Guiding the Male Lead out of His Trauma - Chapter 49.1
Bansi momentarily glanced at the other platoon members.
It wasn’t a decision she made on her own. The other platoon members flinched at the same time, as if anticipating how Bansi would respond.
“Uh…”
“Let’s not pretend you’re surprised I noticed. I’ve been aware since the very first day.”
“…I see. We didn’t exactly have the time to cover things up properly back then.”
As she admitted it without resistance, a few of the platoon members sighed and quickly slipped out of the tent.
Some remained behind, standing by Bansi.
“When a moment’s lapse could mean at least an injury, or at worst, death, who has the luxury to keep up appearances?”
“And with time, everyone ends up noticing, like you two.”
I had a hunch that the ones who had just stepped outside were the very people they meant by ‘those who figured it out’.
…Or perhaps they were people who were no longer here at all.
Bansi muttered while rubbing her face with both hands.
“I say this every time, but it never gets any easier.”
But it was Acteon who responded more quickly, recalling the first battle.
“This area is the frontlines, with many battles fought. Even so, the mana concentration in the surroundings is considerable. There’s no need to be frugal with its use.”
“Haha…”
“Yet despite being in an environment where they could fully utilize their abilities, the Tyr Platoon is minimizing mana usage. That indicates there’s some kind of risk involved.”
“……”
Just a short while ago, the platoon members had been chatty. Now, none of them spoke.
Someone, unable to endure the tense silence in the tent, stood up.
“Enelly only died recently. Do we really have to be reminded of this brutal reality again? Bansi, I’m heading out too.”
“Wait! You’re going to leave me alone to explain everything to the rookies?”
“If it’s too hard to talk about, just give them a warning.”
“They’ll find out soon enough whether we like it or not. Might be better to wait until then.”
“Are you being serious right now?”
Despite her outburst, no one remained inside the tent.
We’d somehow ended up driving all the seniors out.
‘Is this really okay…?’
Unlike me, who was quietly worried, Acteon looked completely unbothered.
Bansi, flustered, swept back her short bob in frustration and sat precariously on a rickety, half-rotted wooden chair.
Through the fringe casting shadows over her eyes, her gaze settled on us.
“All I can say is… like you said, Acteon, we’re avoiding mana use as much as possible. So I’d like you two to do the same, unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
“You’re not going to tell us the reason?”
“You’ll find out whether you want to or not. I just hope… that it takes as long as possible for you to find out.”
Even though we were the ones who had ruined the previously cheerful atmosphere, she was the one apologizing to us.
“Ugh, things were finally fun again, and now I’m just scaring you two off… It’s frustrating, but you should listen to me.”
“It’s okay. Hmm, maybe we should just get ready for bed. Acteon, go fetch the others who stepped out.”
With a wry smile, she offered a hint.
“They’re probably teasing Mitchel again. Just find him and the rest will follow.”
“If I go, I’ll end up being the bait again.”
“That’s exactly why I’m sending you. Be a good lure and reel the seniors back in.”
She forced Acteon, who clearly didn’t want to be the center of attention again, to go outside.
Practically dragged out, he was pushed out of the tent by her.
I caught the sleeping bag Bansi tossed and spread it out on the tent floor.
“So, why did you send Acteon out?” I asked.
She clicked her tongue with an exasperated look.
“Why are you two so sharp? You’d survive just fine thrown into some filthy royal power struggle.”
“I’ll pass on that…”
Wouldn’t I just die young that way?
Even now, I’m barely alive only because I changed a future where I almost died. That’s just cruel.
As I was grumbling silently, Bansi, having loosely spread out a sleeping bag, searched for her canteen and took a drink.
Then, she finally brought up the real reason she’d sent Acteon away.
“About mana usage. Guides like you usually don’t have to handle it directly like Transcendents do. Except when you take Nexium.”
“Even so, I like to take it beforehand so I can at least protect myself in battle. I don’t want to be a burden.”
“Really? I see…”
Trailing off, it seemed she was struggling to condense what she wanted to say.
After emptying her canteen completely, she added to the cut-off conversation.
“Lippey, do you like Acteon?”
“…What?”
Why. Why is she asking that?
The question nearly made me bite my tongue, and I scrambled mentally to come up with any kind of answer.
But then.
“Don’t like him too much. You’re bound to suffer because of him.”
The warning Bansi left me with had no trace of her usual teasing or sarcasm.
And because of that, it landed with an even heavier, duller weight.
So much so that I couldn’t bring myself to ask anything further.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
