I Became a Raid Boss-Chapter 99: Sickly beauty (2)

Kana blinked.

‘...A familiar ceiling.’

If you can even call a ceiling you've only seen for a day "familiar."

...Why am I here?

As I strained my foggy mind to recall, the dull ache in my head started throbbing even more intensely.

“Oh, right... I remember now.”

I succeeded in jogging my memory, at least. I had taken down Krumo’s Shadow and, from the backlash of the blessing, had collapsed pathetically. Given that I couldn’t remember anything after that, it seemed I had fainted and just now regained consciousness.

No wonder my head hurts—I had been forced into unconsciousness and then jolted back. Lying down for a few hours had helped somewhat; I felt better than I did before I fainted. Though it still felt like my body was being torn apart.

I forced my body, which resisted every attempt to muster strength, to sit up and headed toward the noise.

“You’re up!”

Daeun’s face lit up with relief.

As I stepped back slightly, Daeun, who looked ready to hug me, hesitated and stopped in her tracks.

“Are you... still in pain?”

“...I’m not in great shape.”

There was no need to lie. As I said it, Daeun’s previously cheerful face turned dark. She started fussing around me, unable to bring herself to touch someone in pain.

“Then you shouldn’t be standing here! What if it gets worse? Come on, let’s get you back to bed right away. Even if it’s stuffy, you need to stay under the blankets and rest... alright?”

“....”

Seeing her go on and on, I couldn’t help but think, what on earth is she doing?

Smack!

“Ouch!”

“Enough already.”

A malfunctioning machine can be fixed by a good thump. The same goes for a malfunctioning Daeun.

Clutching her head where I’d lightly knocked her, Daeun fell silent, and I nodded in satisfaction at the sight. Perhaps I have a real knack for this—maybe I could make a living this way.

But Daeun, rubbing her head and groaning, shot up and protested.

“Down with violence!”

“Sorry, but this is what I’ve survived on my whole life.”

“...When you put it that way, there’s nothing I can say! But hitting me like that was unfair!”

Daeun clutched her hair, and as I noticed her delicate strands tangled in her fingers from her rough handling, I felt a pang of... no, actually, I didn’t feel anything.

I’d seen her act like this more times than I could count. Besides, she’s exaggerating on purpose, so it’s nothing to worry about.

“You’re awake....”

“Atisha.”

Atisha acknowledged me. However...

“Feels like you’re keeping your distance.”

We weren’t particularly close, to begin with, but Atisha was clearly keeping her distance now. It wasn’t just my imagination—she was visibly watching me cautiously.

When I took a step closer, she took two steps back.

...What?

As I narrowed my eyes, Atisha, surprisingly flustered, stumbled over an answer.

“Uh, I was just worried about the miasma...”

“Oh.”

So, that’s why. I thought maybe she was afraid of me and didn’t want to come closer, but that wasn’t it.

It might sound like I’m some delusional teenager or self-absorbed, but having experienced similar situations, I couldn’t help but think this way.

I muttered an excuse, not really directed at anyone.

“It’s fine. Even in my current state, I’m not that affected by miasma.”

“Really...?”

“I wouldn’t lie about something like this.”

Seeing her suspicious look, she probably thought I was being considerate to spare her feelings. But as I mentioned, we aren’t close enough for me to bother with that.

“Exactly, exactly! Our Kana isn’t the type to do something so considerate! She’s probably thinking, ‘No way would miasma from a weakling like you affect me!’”

“....”

Daeun, who had briefly seemed normal, malfunctioned again. Maybe I was too gentle with the last hit, and she broke again. How hard do I need to hit her to fix her without breaking her?

As I clenched my fist, Daeun, sensing the danger, quickly ran off. Her silly antics seemed to work, though, as Atisha’s doubt-filled gaze softened.

“I’m... envious.”

“...Of what?”

“Being able to withstand the miasma....”

My gaze shifted to Atisha’s broken horn.

Atisha missed Raxia. If her horn hadn’t been broken, she probably wouldn’t even be here in Ardina. And yet, she didn’t regret breaking her horn. She was proud of what she had protected in exchange.

For someone with that kind of pride, sympathy would be an insult. Especially coming from someone as inadequate as me.

“If you try hard enough, you’ll manage.”

“Think so...?”

I hope so....

Atisha smiled faintly.

“Thank you... thanks to you and Journey, the casualties were kept to a minimum....”

She said that because of me, they could defeat Krumo’s Shadow, and that Journey’s efforts to help with the rescue had reduced the number of victims.

“Oh?”

So Daeun did something like that. No wonder Krumo’s Shadow was so distracted—it must have been irritated by her rescue work.

“You’re looking for a ship to Raxia, right? I’ll make sure to prepare the best one....”

“Just as long as it doesn’t sink, it’s fine.”

“No way would I give that kind of treatment to my benefactor....”

“Well... do as you like.”

I pulled myself away from where I’d been leaning against the door frame.

“Don’t you have something to do right now?”

“Something to do...?”

Click.

“Pest control.”

I lifted the sword I held in one hand.

“You heard, right? Monsters have swarmed in.”

“You... heard that?”

“Weren’t you saying it loud enough for me to hear?”

“Sorry... I guess I was speaking too loudly....”

“...You’re really different from yesterday.”

Not even just yesterday—compared to earlier this morning, Atisha was noticeably different now.

People don’t change that quickly, so she must be genuinely grateful, not just paying lip service.

“It’s my responsibility, so I’ll finish it myself.”

If it were just monsters invading, I’d leave it to others, but I couldn’t ignore this situation. After all, the monsters came because of me.

“What do you mean by that?”

Smack!

“Ouch!”

Daeun, trying to sneak into the conversation, received a smack on the head for her troubles.

“Do you know why especially dangerous monsters are always near a dragon’s lair?”

No matter how powerful they are, monsters know better than to mess with a dragon.

“...Because of territorial instinct?”

“More than their own lives?”

“Hm, I guess I was wrong. So, what’s the answer, Professor?”

Not a hint of disappointment showed on Daeun’s face over not getting the answer right. At this point, I think she’s just enjoying this.

The answer didn’t come from me but from someone else.

“Because of the mana... right?”

“That’s right.”

I nodded at Atisha’s hesitant guess. Some creatures, as Daeun suggested, might stay in their habitat due to strong territorial instincts. But the main reason is the mana that flows from dragons.

Pure, untainted mana. With that constantly flowing, they’re willing to risk staying near. Just as mana is a source of life and a means to grow stronger for humans, it’s the same for monsters.

“And this ring is infused with dragon mana.”

To be precise, it’s not that it contains mana but that a dragon resides in it. But since the outcome is the same, there’s no need to clarify.

“I was going to tell you sooner....”

“You were?”

“You know why.”

Daeun suddenly made a realization. Thinking back, I’d used too much power. I didn’t mean to overdo it; it just happened in the heat of the moment. There was a sense of urgency, after all.

Even without the blessing, I could’ve defeated a creature of that level with my own power. ...Or maybe the damage would’ve been greater that way. Looking at it that way, my decision wasn’t too bad, though I did use Gracid’s power excessively.

I sighed heavily, staggering as I moved.

“W-where are you going?!”

“I told you, it’s my responsibility, so I’ll—”

“That won’t do!”

With a sudden “Hup!” and a tiny shout, I was lifted off the ground.

Familiar scent and touch. Without hesitation, Daeun hoisted me in a princess carry and trudged back to the room. She then laid me on the bed and tucked a thick blanket up to my head.

“...Pfft.”

For a moment, I couldn’t even think to protest. Then, regaining my senses, I poked my head out from under the blanket.

“What do you think you’re doing...?”

“Leave this to us and rest like a proper patient!”

“Yes, exactly... we’re not so weak that we’d need your help for this....”

Atisha, who had followed in, echoed Daeun, and Selene nodded in agreement.

I looked at them, united in their determination to keep me in bed.

“...Whatever.”

I tried to sit up, but Daeun, eyes narrowed in a stern glare, pressed me back down onto the bed.

“See? Even with my gentle strength, you can’t get up. Kana, you need to rest.”

“...?”

Even in this state, I could easily take down several people at Daeun’s level if they tried to restrain me.

But, ignoring my astonishment, Daeun lifted the blanket and tucked it back over me, this time leaving only my eyes exposed.

“Anyway! We’ll handle this ourselves, so stay put and rest! If I catch you coming out, I’ll spank you! Scared?”

“....”

...This is ridiculous.

Her stern threat left me speechless. Even if I were a kid, I doubt I’d be intimidated by something like that.

Watching the three of them close the curtains and firmly shut the door, I relaxed my body.

“...If you ask for help later, I won’t help you.”

Yes. Definitely not.

I nodded, making up my mind.

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“....”

Still.

...Well.

It doesn’t feel all that bad.

I pulled the blanket up over my head.

“...It’s hot.”

It’s definitely the blanket making me so warm.