[33 — Consequences?]

Ruru gathered her things and left the training grounds. She didn't need to say a word. Just looking at her face, I already knew I'd screwed up.

I thought about taking a bath to cool off before heading back, but the sight of her back growing more and more distant made me rush to grab my stuff and run before I lost track of her.

Her pace was quick. Not as quick as during sparring, of course, but still enough to wear me out. (Especially after training.)

"Haah… haah… haah…"

I barely managed to catch up. Ruru didn't so much as flinch when she saw me out of breath by her side. It was obvious enough: a simple apology wasn't going to cut it this time.

I knew I'd acted recklessly, that I should've told her beforehand. But seriously… she never would've gone along with my plan if she'd known the truth, right?

That's the only reason I didn't tell her. I swear!

Should I… try explaining that to her?

No— wait a second!

Aside from using her in my plan… what exactly did I do wrong?

I mean, come on. I was the one who risked my life, I was the one who got hurt, and in the end I was the one who got slapped.

Not to play the victim here, but if anyone came out losing, it was me.

So why the hell should I be the one apologizing?

"Hmph!"

That thought pissed me off.

I considered running ahead of her, but the cut along my side started aching again. If I pushed myself, it'd only get worse. So I kept pace, careful not to let her notice.

…Yeah, I was angry, but there was no need to make her worry.

"Morning, Destroyer-kun, Ruru-san!" Nana-san greeted us as she swept in front of her shop.

"..."

Ruru ignored her completely, not even glancing her way.

"G-good morning, Nana-san…" I forced a dumb smile.

"Urgh! What did you do to Ruru-san? She looks furious. Did you two fight?"

"Ha… ha…"

Great. Even she's already assuming it's my fault.

"Men… sigh. Whatever it is, Destroyer-kun, you'd better chase after her. If you messed up, apologize. Got it? And no fooling around!"

"Ah... y-yeah, of course. I'll get going then, Nana-san. Good luck with sales."

…Time for a strategic retreat.

"And don't forget! No fooling around!"

I waved, then slipped out of her sight. A tactical withdrawal. This time, I was clearly outnumbered.

──────⊱◈◈◈⊰──────

By the time I reached the inn, Ruru had already gone inside.

I stopped in front of her door, frozen like a statue, wondering if I should knock.

Even if I did… what the hell would I even say?

"Hey, Ruru, I messed up earlier." …No, that'd sound idiotic.

How about, "Ruru, you're the one who cut me, so I should be the mad one—" …yeah, that'd be even worse.

I couldn't blame her for the consequences of my decision. That would only make her angrier.

The more I thought about it, the more useless every excuse sounded. And honestly? It's not like I actually regretted what I'd done. There was no real remorse in me. So then…

Why was I even trying to fix this?

"..."

I pressed the back of my hand against the door, hesitating. Took a deep breath, and stood there for a few minutes.

All the words I'd been rehearsing vanished in an instant, replaced by a single thought:

Maybe it's better to leave things as they are.

I felt like if I pushed further, I'd cross a dangerous line. One step more, and I'd risk letting something abominable take root inside me.

…In the end, I couldn't bring myself to knock.

──────⊱◈◈◈⊰──────

Before heading back to my room, I went back to obaachan's shop to buy some bandages.

Ruru was usually the one keeping track of that kind of thing, so the ones I had were all worn out. No way I could reuse them.

Sure, my bandaging skills were crap, but for now they'd have to do.

"..."

I took one last glance over my shoulder, inhaled deep…

And only then did I open my door.

"Hopefully she's calmed down by later," I muttered.

"Who are you hoping calms down, Destroyer-sama?"

"R-Ruru?! Wh—why… what are you doing here?"

A faint smile tugged at the corner of my lips when I saw her sitting on my bed.

"Huh? Why are you smiling like that? Just so you know, I haven't forgotten what you did. It's just… we can't leave your wound untreated."

Beside her was a mountain of bandages. Enough that if you stretched them all out, they could probably reach the sun and back.

"So you noticed…"

"Of course I did. That's why I rushed home."

I lowered my head as I walked closer. Felt like a dog caught after tipping over the trash can. I knew I was about to be scolded, but… for some reason, I was happy.

"..."

Ruru stared at me for a few long seconds. Seconds that felt like minutes. I froze, not knowing what to say.

And it wasn't just fear this time. She'd cornered me; put me in a moral Zugzwang.

Anything I said now would only fan the flames. Best course of action was to let her vent until the fire burned out.

Alright. I was mentally prepared. Depending on what she said, I already had a few answers ready at the tip of my tongue.

"So why are you standing there, Destroyer-sama? Sit down and… take off your shirt."

"…Fine."

I obeyed, sat down, and pulled off my shirt.

I really couldn't read Ruru at all.

──────⊱◈◈◈⊰──────

While she cleaned the wound, I fought a battle against myself, straining not to let our eyes meet.

Whatever was on that cloth she used, it stung like hell.

"Keuk…" I let a groan slip.

"..."

Normally, she would've smiled and teased me at a moment like that. But not this time. Her face stayed serious.

She swapped to another cloth, moving even closer. Her head brushed near my chest, her perfume mixing with the sting of alcohol. For a moment, I caught myself wishing she'd say something… maybe the fumes were making me delirious.

"D-Destroyer-sama…"

…Crap! When did our eyes lock?

"Why did you do that?"

"I…"

What was it I'd meant to say again?

"I know I have no right to question your choices, but… you weren't trying to…" Her expression darkened.

Wait. Was she suggesting—

"N-no! Of course not! No way, I wasn't trying to kill myself. I-I… just… I'm sorry, Ruru. I was reckless. I shouldn't have done that, I know. But it's not what you think."

How the hell could I explain I was only trying to trigger a skill?

"I… I see…" She turned her gaze aside. "I'm the one who should apologize, Destroyer-sama. I shouldn't have reacted that way. I failed in—"

On impulse, I grabbed her wrist.

"Don't finish that sentence, Ruru. You don't owe me an apology. Even if it was just a plan, and even if I had everything under control… it still wasn't right. I should've at least told you."

"Ah— Destroyer-sama!" Her face twisted in pain. That's when I realized: her wrist was swollen, bruised deep purple.

"R-Ruru, your wrist…"

So she hurt herself in the fall?

This girl… why was she treating me when her own wrist was like that?

"Don't look at me like that, Destroyer-sama. It's nothing. Like you say… it's just a battle scar. Doesn't even hu—Aagh! Destroyer-sama!!! Why'd you squeeze it?!"

"I didn't squeeze. I just brushed a finger over it. See? And you're telling me it's nothing?"

I stood up.

"Where are you going? I haven't finished treating you yet."

"Nope. We're dealing with this first. From now on, you're the patient."

"P-patient?"

She tried to argue, but I wasn't about to let her throw me off.

I gathered some leftover wooden scraps from my 'masterpieces' and set them beside the bandages. Just in case we needed a splint.

I rolled up her sleeve and examined the wrist. Did my best to hide how clueless I was.

"Ah…"

"What is it, Ruru? Does it hurt here too?"

"N-not that, Destroyer-sama. Your hand is cold."

"…"

Don't distract me!

Her wrist was slender, delicate. Her skin so pale I could trace the veins beneath.

I turned it this way and that, careful, until I reached a solid conclusion:

I had no idea what I was looking at.

"D-Destroyer-sama… is it serious?"

"Ahem! Well… luckily, it doesn't seem broken."

It really didn't. Not that I could prove it.

"Still, we'll immobilize it. Try not to move it for a few days."

"And… and our training?"

"With your wrist like this, we'll have to susp—" I caught her expression clouding.

She'd probably blame herself for this.

"I mean… you won't be able to wield a sword, but I'll still be relying on your corrections and lessons, eh… mentor."

My face went red. Can't believe I actually said that out loud.

"Y-yes… you can count on me."

I held her arm gently, cleaned the skin around her wrist, then wrapped it in bandages.

The wood scraps were too big, so I cut and shaved them smooth before tying them in place. Honestly? Looked like the work of a seasoned doctor.

I could feel her pulse beating fast against my fingers. Her breath warm and uneven. She was flushed. Maybe even she was struggling to hide the pain.

Thinking back, my wrapping skills had definitely improved lately. Nowhere near Ruru's level, of course, but still… not half as bad as I expected.

"There. All done."

This time, she wouldn't be able to laugh at—

"Pft! Destroyer-sama… you're still hopeless at this."

"Oi! What are you talking about?! Didn't you notice my progress? I'm way better now than last—"

"Thank you." She smiled.

"…!"

My heart jumped.

"Well then… now it's my turn to take care of you."

She leaned closer, inch by inch.

"I… uh… Ruru…"

Creeeak!—

The door flew open.

"Destroyer, let's play chess! This time you're—"

Sera barged in. Damn her habit of entering without—

Ruru shot to her feet and stepped in front of me.

"Sera, d-dear. Could you give us a moment?"

What the hell? Why was Ruru acting like that?

"We can play later, Sera—"

I started to speak, but then I saw Sera's face. Frozen. Eyes wide like she'd just seen a ghost— no, a monster.

"D-Destroyer…? What… what's that on your arm?! I… I can't believe it." She staggered back.

"What's wrong, Sera? Why are you—"

"Shut up!!! You… no way!!! No... NO! YOU'RE AN INQUISITOR!!!"

"Sera!!!"

Ruru shouted and bolted after her.

"I... I..."

I stared down at my arm for a few seconds.

Finally, I understood what those tattoos meant.

"So that's it… I'm… an inquisitor."