Chapter 129: Red Eyes (2)
“…Yuran?”
The moment I stepped through the door, I froze in place.
The room was dim, with the curtains drawn against the light.
Yuran sat tucked into that darkness, looking so different from how I usually knew her.
She was crouched low, her head buried—as if trying to hide herself from something, her whole body curled up tightly.
“Yuran.”
I called her name again, this time gently.
At that, Yuran slowly lifted her head.
A blindfold inscribed with strange characters I couldn’t understand.
Seeing her eyes hidden behind it, I flinched.
Yuran forced a smile, her lips curling up slightly.
“You’ve come.”
“What happened to your eyes? Don’t tell me there are still aftereffects?”
“That’s not it.”
Yuran replied quickly.
“I’ve heard that even the followers of the Holy Sun Church offer parts of their bodies to their god. This is something like that.”
It sounded prepared in advance, yet there was none of her usual calm or composure.
Her tone was wrapped in a peculiar tension, as if trying hard to act unaffected while hiding something.
“……”
I furrowed my brow slightly.
The training method she was referring to certainly did exist.
But it was an ancient technique, one long since abandoned and relegated to myths.
There was no way Yuran didn’t know that.
Something’s wrong.
I gave a small nod.
It was obvious she was under psychological strain.
Setting aside my confusion, I decided to go along with her story as best I could.
“Then… don’t tell me, did you offer your eyes?”
“Tha-at’s not it. No, I didn’t.”
She hesitated briefly, then shook her head quickly.
“It’s a kind of training. …Yes, yes! As a Sky Guide. It’s a Sky Guide’s method of training.”
“A Sky Guide?”
“Yes.”
Yuran nodded.
“Didn’t I say it before? To pay attention to the eyes, ears, and tongue? This is that. It’s a training method focused on the eyes.”
“I see.”
Even though she seemed to be making excuses, I nodded.
She must have her reasons.
Instead of prying for the truth, I quietly asked,
“So, what can I do to help?”
“……”
Yuran lowered her head and thought for a moment before whispering softly.
“…Bestow a miracle upon me.”
She added, almost in passing.
“I can’t explain the details. But something… something is wrong. I think it’s because this is my first time with this training. For now, in this situation…”
She muttered with a sigh.
“I have to get out.”
“Understood. Then, pardon me for a moment.”
I carefully stepped closer to her.
Yuran flinched and trembled, then turned her head toward the sound.
“May I touch your face for a moment?”
“Uh… can you not touch somewhere else?”
“Then I’ll use your hand.”
Yuran quietly extended her hand.
Holding it gently, I cautiously poured power into her and invoked a miracle.
It was a miracle that not only granted a blessing but could also dispel curses.
“…I already knew.”
She murmured quietly.
“Your power is indeed strong. But…”
She sighed, sounding disappointed.
Apparently, my miracle hadn’t produced much effect.
“I’m sorry, but… could I ask one more favor?”
There was desperation in her hesitant voice.
“Yes, of course.”
“Get me some blood.”
Yuran added,
“Chicken, horse, and sheep. Just one jar each would do.”
“…Those will suffice?”
“Yes.”
Animal blood—out of nowhere.
It was a bit surprising, but I nodded.
Animal blood was widely used for various purposes; as long as I could get out, it shouldn’t be hard to obtain.
But her next request made me pause.
“And please… get them without anyone knowing.”
“Pardon?”
“…Please. More specifically, you must not go outside this place.”
“So, you want me to get them within the Academy?”
Yuran nodded without a word.
She looked utterly dejected, as if fully aware of how difficult her request was.
“Hmm…”
Not going outside, and acquiring them within the Academy?
And on top of that, without drawing any attention…
As I hesitated, Yuran trembled slightly and bit her lip.
“…I’m sorry. But the only person I can trust and rely on right now is you, my savior…”
She murmured as if begging.
“My teacher is very busy right now. So… Lian Gwendil, you’re the only one I could ask for help.”
Even as she spoke, she trembled as if gripped by fear.
Her appearance radiated sheer desperation.
Seeing her like this—so fragile for the first time—I couldn’t help but nod.
“I’ll do my best to try.”
“Th-thank you. Truly, thank you…!”
Yuran repeatedly thanked me.
I told her not to thank me until I succeeded and assured her I’d do my best to find what she needed quickly, then stepped outside to leave.
“Phew.”
Once I was out, I let out a small but deep sigh so she couldn’t hear me.
Chicken, horse, and sheep blood.
She must be planning some sort of ritual or ceremony.
I had no idea why Yuran was wearing a blindfold or what was making her so anxious…
But for now, I simply set out to find what she had requested.
Training through the eyes, huh.
Perhaps it was because I had just attended Professor Windy May’s class before coming here.
I naturally recalled the image of Yuran with red eyes I held in my memory.
Come to think of it, I had been startled the first time I saw her black eyes.
Could this event be what turns her eyes red?
That was about as far as my thoughts went.
After all, in the future, Yuran didn’t hide her red eyes.
Though some criticized her origins, no one seemed to have an issue with the color of her eyes.
So even if her eyes did turn red, I would’ve just accepted it at face value.
However—
“No… It’s still…”
That’s why I had no idea how terrified Yuran was of her current situation.
Nor could I imagine how close she was to her psychological breaking point.
The moment I left, she hurried to the mirror, as if to make sure.
Seeing that her eyes were still red, she let out a despairing groan.
The proof of a demon.
Red eyes.
And then…
“That can’t be….”
All Yuran could do was keep murmuring that it couldn’t be true, that something was definitely wrong.
She prayed that her teacher and fellow demon hunter, Ras Sink Shagas, would return as late as possible.
“Lian Gwendil.”
She curled up, whispering the only name she could trust in this moment.
“Please….”
As if denying reality, she pulled the blindfold over her face again to cover her red eyes, wishing he would return as quickly as possible.
He had said he’d try to get them, but where should he even start?
Lian paused, thinking it over.
A few places came to mind where he had at least some chance of finding what he needed.
“The cafeteria, the storage, and maybe the supply room.”
First, the cafeteria.
Naturally, since it handled the meals of countless people each day, massive amounts of ingredients passed through it.
They even did prep work and processing there, so finding animal blood—considered a byproduct—shouldn’t be too difficult.
The problem was, he didn’t know anyone in the cafeteria, and of course, they weren’t about to let an outsider like him in.
“Storage is probably even worse.”
That left the supply room.
There, even students, not just professors, could submit a request and get materials released after proper screening.
Animal blood wasn’t exactly a rare ingredient, so there was probably leftover stock, and he could likely secure some without trouble.
“Hm…”
But doing so would violate Yuran’s request to stay out of sight as much as possible.
Naturally, that also meant not leaving any records behind.
Just as he decided to start with the nearest option and headed toward the cafeteria, he happened to run into Artemia—pure coincidence.
“Ms. Artemia?”
“Lord Lian Gwendil.”
She was carrying a large box, but she put it down and offered him a polite bow.
Once again, she wore practical everyday clothes rather than a maid uniform.
“…Are you working in the cafeteria today?”
“Yes. They were short-handed and asked for help.”
Her voice was as polite as ever.
“Places like the cafeteria are always short on help, no matter how many hands they have.”
“You work so hard. Truly.”
“Thank you.”
Artemia gave a gentle smile.
At that moment, a thought flashed through Lian’s mind.
“Ms. Artemia, this might be an unreasonable request, but…”
He explained his situation vaguely, omitting anything related to Yuran, and asked for her help.
“I understand.”
Surprisingly, Artemia nodded without the slightest hesitation.
“If that’s the case, it shouldn’t be a problem. Please wait here just a moment. I’ll bring it right away.”
Her ease left Lian more flustered than the one making the request should have been.
“…You’re not even going to ask why?”
“Because it’s your request, Lord Lian.”
Artemia replied.
“And I don’t believe you would use it for anything improper.”
Without a flicker of emotion, Artemia said this and stepped into the cafeteria, telling him to wait just a bit.
Before long, she returned with three bottles filled with blood.
“Here you are.”
“Thank you, Ms. Artemia.”
She even thoughtfully labeled which animal’s blood was in each bottle.
When Lian expressed his sincere gratitude, Artemia replied in her usual courteous tone as if it was nothing special.
“If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. I will assist wholeheartedly.”
With that, she bowed once more and returned to her duties.
Lian, too, went straight back to the office.
“Al-already back?”
Yuran, curled up in the corner, was so startled by how fast he returned that she blurted it out.
“Yes. I’ve brought them just as you asked. In order—chicken, horse, and sheep’s blood.”
“…Thank you. Truly, thank you so much.”
As she carefully accepted the bottles, Yuran let out a sigh.
Lian, concerned that something was wrong, looked at her expression and asked,
“Is something the matter?”
“Well… I forgot one.”
She twisted her lips as if annoyed with herself for being so foolish.
“Alcohol.”
“Alcohol?”
“I forgot the alcohol.”
She mumbled gloomily.
Seeing this, Lian gave her shoulder a reassuring pat.
“If it’s alcohol… just a moment.”
“Hm?”
He poured water from a kettle on the table.
Then, clutching the cup, he carefully infused it with divine power.
The water in the cup soon turned into wine.
“Will wine do?”
“Wh-what is this…? When did you even…?”
Seeing Yuran stunned, Lian explained.
“I used a miracle.”
“Haa…”
She let out a sound somewhere between awe and a sigh.
Then, with a slow nod, she spoke.
“It’s enough.”
Yuran carefully placed the bottles of blood and the cup of wine on the table.
Wine and blood.
Typical materials for a ritual.
Just as Lian was wondering if he should leave—
Gulp gulp.
Suddenly, Yuran began drinking the wine from the cup.
Lian, assuming it was part of the ritual, watched her in silence—until she quietly held out the empty cup toward him.
“Uh… sorry, but could you… one more time…?”
Perhaps from the alcohol, or maybe from embarrassment, a slight blush tinged her cheeks.
“……”
Lian silently used the miracle once more.