You, Be My Comrade!

Perhaps it was because he had been subjected to two “violent” teleportations in less than half a day, but Ensi’s condition was worse than it had been at noon.

Ensi gripped his pipe so tightly it felt as if it might snap, letting out thin, ragged breaths. Even as he followed Agniell, his head spun. Unable to endure the vertigo any longer, Ensi squeezed his eyes shut.

“Hmm, it seems he has a constitution highly sensitive to mana. There are still things to announce, but it would be best for him to go back and rest first. Cadet Agniell, would you mind taking him?”

At the teaching assistant’s suggestion, Agniell checked Ensi’s complexion again. As time passed, he seemed to be growing paler rather than recovering.

“I will do so.”

“No, it’s fine. If I just sit and rest for a moment—”

As Ensi tried to decline the offer, Agniell firmly gripped the arm he was holding and then let go. Sensing the clear resolve in Agniell’s touch, Ensi swallowed the rest of his words.

‘……Fine, I should go back.’ If even a teaching assistant was recommending it, he must look truly awful.

Changing his mind, Ensi tried to put strength into his legs to stand upright on his own.

“Excuse me.”

Ensi, who was frowning from the throbbing headache, missed the quiet whisper from the man beside him. Thinking that a declaration—even if unheard by the recipient—was enough, Agniell cast aside his hesitation and immediately swept Ensi up into his arms.

“Agniell?”

Having experienced a similar situation before, Ensi wasn’t as shocked as the first time. However, given the public setting, he reflexively looked around.

As expected, everyone was half-dazed by Agniell’s sudden action. Ensi bit his lip as his eyes met someone staring blankly at them. He leaned his head slightly back while holding Agniell’s shoulder and whispered.

“You don’t have to go this far.”

“Stay still.”

He sent a signal to be put down, but what returned was a stubborn refusal. Agniell tightened his hold as if telling him not to squirm. Sensing that the man wouldn’t change his mind easily, Ensi furrowed his brows. Wandering around the Academy like this was bound to be problematic.

Furthermore, unlike during the practical training, the distance from here to his quarters was quite far. And he was in relatively better shape compared to that day.

“Agniell. I can walk today.”

Ensi called his name again, putting pressure on the hand resting on Agniell’s shoulder, but Agniell looked straight ahead as if he hadn’t heard a word.

“Your body is trembling.”

“……Is it?”

“Yes. Isn’t it quite serious if you aren’t even aware of it yourself?”

Agniell lowered his gaze to meet Ensi’s. Caught in a gaze he couldn’t avoid, Ensi felt his heart drop.

It was happening again. Agniell was looking at him with eyes full of worry, concern, and a faint hint of reproach. It was the second time today he had faced that look. Every time those low-saturation golden eyes wavered, Ensi’s heart stirred in tandem. Ensi turned his head into Agniell’s chest and clenched his hand to avoid the gaze.

“Are you not cold?”

“……I’m fine. It’s not because of that.”

“Understood. I will move slowly, but tell me if it’s too much.”

‘So he was moving slowly on purpose.’ Ensi let out a dry laugh, realizing why the pace was so different from before. Indeed, during the training session, speed had been essential. The situation was different now, as he was suffering from the aftereffects of violent mana fluctuations. If Agniell had moved like he did back then, Ensi might have passed out from the dizziness.

“You are very kind.”

Because he mumbled, the words were slurred, but Agniell understood them perfectly. After pursing his lips for a long moment, Agniell finally spoke up in denial.

“I am not a particularly kind person.”

“I don’t know about that. If you weren’t kind, I don’t think you would go this far.”

‘Is it because he’s embarrassed to admit it?’ Speculating on why Agniell was denying it, Ensi lowered his gaze and whispered again.

“This isn’t because I am kind…… Ensius, it is because it is you.”

A heavy silence followed Agniell’s quiet but direct words. Ensi, unsure of how to respond, shut his mouth, and Agniell followed suit.

For some reason, Ensi’s heart felt restless. He was used to quiet atmospheres, but because such a heart-fluttering comment had been the last word of their conversation, he felt a strange urge to squirm.

They remained silent until they reached the greenhouse. Since his dizziness had faded significantly along the way, Ensi briefly considered asking to be put down, but he ultimately chose to remain quietly in Agniell’s arms.

Having stepped inside a few times before, Agniell headed straight for the bed without hesitation. His touch as he pulled back the canopy and laid Ensi down was very polite and simple.

“Agniell.”

Watching Agniell’s back as he pulled back after tucking him in, Ensi called out on impulse. His silhouette was blurred through the canopy.

“Yes.”

Agniell stopped immediately at the call but did not turn around. Facing only his back, Ensi toyed with the edge of the pillowcase.

“Thank you for today.”

“There is no need for thanks; I did many things of my own accord. Rest well.”

Agniell left quickly after leaving a somewhat blunt reply. It was an attitude that could almost be called cold. One might have been hurt by it, but Ensi only laughed under his breath.

This was because, even through the blurry silhouette, it was clear as day—Agniell’s ears were a bright, vivid red.

Agniell practically ran out of the greenhouse. Ignoring his flushed cheeks, he was about to head straight to the dormitory when he noticed someone leaning against the greenhouse door.

“Florence?”

“Yeah, it’s me.”

Lily, who had been waiting with her chin held high, frowned as she saw Agniell’s face.

“What the— why is your face so red? It’s creepy! Don’t tell me—did you do something weird to Ensi!?”

Lily practically screamed, demanding to know what he’d done to a sick person. Her wide eyes were full of blatant reproach, as if she were looking at a scoundrel.

“Do I look like a man rude enough to do something to a person who is unwell?”

“Well, no. Now that I think about it, you’re right. I guess I didn’t need to worry.”

Lily scanned Agniell up and down and scratched her cheek, admitting she had overspoken. No matter how much love changes a person, she figured Agniell was safe.

“Anyway, forget that. You and I need to talk.”

“Not Ensius?”

“Nope. I have business with you, not Ensi.”

‘I have something to say,’ Lily added with a smirk. Agniell, who naturally assumed she was here for Ensi, looked at her with curiosity.

“How did you know I was here?”

“I heard from the teaching assistant, obviously. I went looking for you guys after hearing about the early finish, and they said you’d just carried Ensi off. Dammit, I can’t believe I missed such a great scene.”

If only Agniell hadn’t eliminated her, she could have witnessed it firsthand. Lily let out a deep sigh of regret.

“And what is it you want to say?”

“Ah, this isn’t the place for it. Want to follow me for a bit?”

Since it was in the past, she decided to set aside her minor grudge and beckoned him with her finger. When Agniell frowned at the somewhat rude gesture, a flustered Lily quickly apologized.

“Sorry, sorry! So, do you have time? It’s not like you’re so busy you can’t talk for a bit, right?”

She had momentarily forgotten herself and acted as she did in front of her club members. Lily lightly slapped her own cheek to snap out of it.

“I have no particular schedule.”

“Great. This way.”

Lily didn’t say what she wanted to talk about, nor even where they were going. Because of this, Agniell felt no real need to follow her. However, the reason he couldn’t ignore her was simply that she was Ensius’s friend.

Lily moved with purpose, picking paths where no one else was present with uncanny accuracy. She explained that they couldn’t add fuel to the already “hot” rumors, so he should understand the detour.

Agniell nodded without complaint since it was a reasonable suggestion, but then she brought up what happened during the exam. She complained about how unfair it was to stab someone in the back, and how she and Ensi had agreed to ignore each other, but he had ruined their promise.

Watching Lily’s mouth move incessantly, Agniell’s expression hardened into a mask of exhaustion, and he let out a sigh loud enough for the sharp-eared Lily to hear.

“You talk quite a lot.”

He had thought so before, but she really was talkative. She had so much to say that just when he thought she was done, she’d smoothly transition to a new topic.

“Hah! Really? Have you considered that it’s not that I talk too much, but that you’re too stoic? You’re even quiet when you meet Ensi. How do you expect to make any progress if you’re that tight-lipped?”

“Progress?”

“I mean, obviously— wait, no. Do people not use that expression? I’m suddenly confused.”

Lily pondered seriously with her hand on her chin, then shook her head to clear her thoughts.

“Never mind, just forget it. More importantly, we’re almost there, so let’s go in. They’ll be waiting.”

‘Waiting? Who?’

Before Agniell could ask, Lily hurried forward. Agniell had no choice but to speed up to keep pace with her.

Having followed her to a somewhat secluded location, Agniell stared blankly at the word ‘Romance’ written on the doorplate. Recalling that the building they entered was filled with club rooms, the word on the doorplate clearly indicated the club’s name. He had no idea who named it, or what on earth a club with such a name was supposed to do.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming in?”

Only after hearing Lily’s questioning voice did Agniell take his eyes off the doorplate and step inside.

Lily wasn’t alone. There were two other people he had never seen before sitting by the window, making it a group of three including her.

Lily, who had somehow reached them in an instant, had a serious expression on her face, unlike before—as if she were about to make a monumental announcement.

What could she possibly have to say with such gravity? Just as Agniell was feeling a faint sense of confusion regarding her purpose—

“You, be my comrade!”

Lily thrust her hand out toward Agniell with her signature confident smile and made the sudden, dramatic declaration.