Chapter 34

Trying to move while draping Noah’s arm over her shoulder was almost suffocating due to his weight. However, gritting her teeth and placing one foot in front of the other, she managed to make progress. Noah’s legs below the knees were dragging on the ground, but Regina had no energy to spare worrying about that.

Thinking back now, it was a foolish action. She didn’t need to drag the heavy Noah; she could have just come out to the populated street and asked for help. But at that time, she couldn’t think straight. As a result, when she finally reached the inn where she had previously stayed, Regina was as pale and exhausted as Noah.

‘They say if you’re not smart, your body suffers.’

“Considering the amount of blood on the clothes, the wounds are shallow. At this rate, he’ll be up and about after a day or two of rest.”

Regina, who had been thinking hazily, snapped to attention at the doctor’s words as he examined Noah’s wounds. The doctor, summoned with extra payment to the innkeeper, was initially alarmed by Noah’s blood-soaked state, but upon closer inspection of the wounds, he looked relieved.

“Really? But he seemed badly hurt…”

“Yes, all the wounds appear to be from sharp objects, so I thought the same at first. But look, all the stab wounds are shallow. The bleeding has already stopped too.”

As the doctor lifted Noah’s clothes, Regina looked down and indeed, the wounds were almost healed. Recalling the sharp, needle-like shadows that had pierced Noah’s body, Regina blinked in disbelief.

“…You’re right.”

“It’s a blessing the wounds aren’t worse. I’ve treated all the wounds, so when the patient wakes up, give him this medicine. And I’ll leave some ointment that’s good for wounds, apply it regularly.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“I heard from the innkeeper that you were apparently attacked by robbers while walking on Capsen Street late last night, is that true?”

“Ah… yes, well.”

The doctor asked while handing Regina the medicine and ointment. Regina fumbled her words at his question. It wasn’t robbers, but it was true that they had been walking on Capsen Street late at night, so it wasn’t a complete lie.

“This area used to have good public safety, but it’s getting worse. To think such things are happening… If you need anything else, come find the building with the green roof on the inner street of the inn. Or you can tell the innkeeper here.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Then, I’ll be going.”

He picked up his bag packed with medical equipment along with his coat. Putting on his hat with his free hand, he nodded lightly to Regina in farewell and left the room.

The innkeeper, who had been standing in front of the open door, went downstairs following the doctor. They seemed to be on friendly terms, as the sound of their conversation could be heard as they descended the stairs.

“Thanks for coming right away. Suddenly the lights went out and all the equipment stopped working, so I couldn’t contact the medical center or call anyone. I was at a loss.”

“It’s nothing, I had just finished my consultations and was resting anyway. But why did the lights suddenly go out? I was so startled when it suddenly went dark while I was reading…”

“We don’t know the cause yet, but apparently all the Black Star Fragments in the street lamps on Capsen Street have disappeared. Some say that might be the cause.”

“What? All those star fragments? Huh, really. It’s absurd. Are thieves now stealing even those things?”

-Click.

Regina quietly closed the door as she listened to the fading voices. Looking up towards the bed, she saw Noah lying there with his eyes closed and a pale face. Regina approached the bed, placed the medicine packet and ointment on the table, and looked down at him for a moment.

“…”

As Regina silently put her hand in her skirt pocket, the cold pocket watch made a clinking sound as it wrapped around its chain. It was Noah’s watch. After rolling it in her hand a few times, she seemed to make a decision and gripped it tightly, then moved her feet. She then picked up her coat and luggage that were draped over the chair at the table.

“…Goodbye.”

Her luggage had become considerably lighter after using several pieces of clothing to stop Noah’s bleeding. Regina felt a sense of relief, as if she had lightened her guilt. She took one last look at Noah with his eyes closed and left the room without hesitation.

-Thud.

As she came down the stairs, she saw the innkeeper and the doctor still chatting. Regina hurried her steps to leave the inn before encountering them.

“First, I need to go to the train station.”

Her next destination was the Hoern territory, but if Regina went there now, she would be immediately caught by Noah. She needed to find Rose, who had killed her, but first, she had to move while avoiding Noah.

“…Noah said he was heading north, so I should avoid that direction and take the earliest train possible.”

As soon as she left the inn, Regina’s steps became hurried. The thought suddenly struck her that Noah might follow her and grab her by the neck at any moment. The doctor had said the wounds were shallow, so he might regain consciousness soon.

Her steps got faster and faster, and before she knew it, she was running with all her might. The pocket watch in her pocket was making clinking sounds as it shook.

* * * 

The train station was less crowded than expected. Regina first bought a ticket for the earliest train and then sat down on a chair in the waiting room. She fixed her gaze on the large clock in front of her. She had been told the train would depart in 20 minutes, so she sat down, but her hands were shaking with nervousness.

Time seemed to pass so slowly that even the movements of people passing in front of the waiting room appeared sluggish.

-Clink.

Regina couldn’t stop her head from turning towards the station entrance. The pocket watch in her skirt pocket clinked at the movement, startling her. She took it out to look at it.

The shining silver watch had seemed to be stained with Noah’s blood, but now it looked as clean as new.

“My blood too… could this watch be absorbing blood?”

-Swish.

While it was certainly pretty, she felt an inexplicable uneasiness. As she frowned, glaring at the watch, suddenly a long golden thread flowed down over the watch.

“…?”

Following the golden thread swaying gently before her eyes, her gaze met deep green eyes. Before she could wonder who this person was, she was captivated by his appearance. Regina felt overwhelmed by his surreal features and tall stature.

Ezra looked down at Regina, who was frozen in her chair, and smiled brightly. His long golden hair swayed slightly with the movement.

“My, I followed the watch’s energy, but where did Noah go, and why does a young lady have this?”

“Uh…”

His voice sounded as if it was resonating through a transparent membrane. Regina opened her mouth to answer his question but hesitated. She instinctively felt a sense of resistance, as if something invisible was being placed over her head.

Seeing this, Ezra looked puzzled for a moment, then asked again.

“Where did Noah go, and why do you have that watch?”

As soon as he finished his question, small lights appeared around him and suddenly spread out. Startled by this, Regina’s eyes widened and she flinched backwards.

“Hmm?”

Ezra’s expression changed at her reaction.

“You, can you see these lights? Are you not human?”

“Ah, no…”

She realized her mistake. She shouldn’t have reacted unconsciously to these lights. It was because she hadn’t expected the man in front of her to be non-human. Seeing Regina’s expression harden, Ezra took out glasses from his pocket, put them on, and reached out his hand to examine her closely.

“Definitely not a Light Fairy… Could it be a Black Fairy?”

Regina felt that his transparent green eyes were strangely glinting. At that moment, she had the urge to run away, but strangely, she couldn’t move, her words stuck in her throat. Like prey caught in a spider’s web, she stared intently at the hand approaching her, unable to move.

-Thwack!

Just before Ezra’s long white fingertips could touch her shoulder, someone’s hand reached out from behind Regina and grabbed Ezra’s arm.

“What are you doing?”

“…?!”

Ezra frowned at having his arm suddenly grabbed, looking at the person standing behind Regina. As Regina turned her head in surprise, she saw Noah standing there, holding Ezra’s arm, his face pale with the color drained from it. Regina’s eyes widened.

The sweet scent of blood vibrating despite his outer clothing. Although he was standing askew as if he might collapse at any moment, Noah’s eyes glaring at Ezra were fierce. Noah, who had been standing behind the chair Regina was sitting on, lightly stepped forward, separating Regina and Ezra. This naturally forced Ezra to take a couple of steps back.

“Weren’t you looking for me? What wind blew you out here, crawling out of the lab you were always cooped up in?”

“Crawling out, what an expression. First, let go of this arm, Noah. It’s unpleasant.”

Ezra, who had narrowed his eyes at Noah’s attitude as if trying to hide Regina behind him, sharply shook off the arm that was being held. Then he took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the part that Noah had grabbed.

“Mr. Noah…”

“I asked why you suddenly came looking for me?”

As Ezra grumbled about getting goosebumps and debated whether to throw away the handkerchief he had used to wipe his arm, Regina called out to Noah in a small voice. As Ezra’s gaze returned to Regina at this, Noah quickly threw out a question as if to block her words.

“You’re impatient. The scent of your blood is overwhelming, it’s worth seeing. Besides, I felt the power of a high-ranking Black Fairy being used.”

“You’ve got quite the nose. Did you come to check if I was dead or alive?”

Ezra, who had looked over Noah’s pale face, the bloodstains remaining here and there on his clothes, and him naturally blocking Regina, smiled as if amused. Regina kept her mouth shut, sensing the situation, and alternately looked at the two of them.

“That’s right, Noah. I came to check if you were dead. If you were, I’d have to collect the watch I gave you. But I’ve witnessed an interesting scene. You, taking care of a Black Fairy, did the sun rise from the west today?”

“You’ve confirmed I’m not dead, so you can go now. And look into that high-ranking Black Fairy a bit more.”

However, Ezra didn’t answer and just chuckled, looking alternately at Regina and Noah with an intrigued expression. As if to cut off that interest, Noah lightly tapped Regina’s shoulder to make her stand up.

“Let’s go, get up quickly.”

“Oh, ah… Yes.”

Ezra, who had been excited by the prospect of new prey, clicked his tongue at Noah’s action of sheltering her like a mother bird. He couldn’t understand what had gotten into this Black Fairy-hating man to act like that, but in any case, it seemed difficult to capture the young Black Fairy in front of him now because of it.

“Alright, if you come to the capital again, visit the lab. You might hear some new information.”

“…Sure.”

“If possible, it would be good if the person next to you came along too.”

Though the chances of being taxidermied alive as soon as she entered the lab were high. Omitting the latter part of his thoughts, Ezra smiled sweetly. Regina, not understanding the situation, nodded and said goodbye. Ezra stood there as if seeing them off as they left the train station, then disappeared in an instant along with the cluster of light after the two had gone.

The people passing through the train station didn’t react to the cluster of light and just hurried their steps indifferently.