'Grrrrroooar!!'
-Whoooosh!
"Hyaah…! D-Dark Spear!!"
-Stab!
'Gr, grrrroooar!!'
For over ten seconds now, I'd been dodging the owl bear's attacks while cradling Cha Eun-ju's exhausted body in my arms.
My body, already pushed far beyond its limits, was screaming from every muscle, even the surge of adrenaline barely holding it together.
"Huff, huff, huff…"
I'd never been this worn out, even during training with Choi Marie.
Even after forcibly numbing the fatigue with Suggestion: Adrenaline Burst, the fact that my body was shrieking like this meant… I'd probably hit my limit long ago.
…If I got off with just full-body muscle pain after the fight, I'd count myself lucky.
'Hang in there, hang in there. This is all for Han Sora and Kim Isabel.'
This was about the only way for someone like me from the Combat Support Department to build any rapport with those two from Archery and Recovery. Going to meet them myself would just feel awkward.
If it meant bringing two such gorgeous, captivating girls into my circle of heroines, I could endure this pain a hundred times over.
…I never expected it to be easy from the start. Stealing the protagonist's awakening event with a body that had zero physical prowess? Yeah, right.
-Whiiiiiish!!
"B-Black Bomb!!"
-Boom!!
'Grrroooaaar…!!'
Cha Eun-ju must've unlocked Black Bomb in the original story around the first-semester finals evaluation. Crisis really did spur growth, huh.
Or maybe it was the power of love, awakening to protect me. Personally, I'd prefer that version—it's way hotter.
-Vroooom!
"Eeeek!!"
"Hoo, hoo, hoo…"
…This was really the end of the line.
The silver lining? Seeing the halo of light rising around Kim Isabel meant her holy chains were almost ready.
Han Sora's arrow had been aimed at the owl bear, just waiting for it to be restrained. A few more seconds, and this nightmare would be over.
That's what I thought—right then.
-Vroooom!!
"Hngh...!!"
"..."
…The beast's palm came crashing down—a strike neither of us could dodge.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
How… how could he push himself that far?
"D-Dark Spear!!"
"Huff, huff, huff…"
Lee Seon-ho had been sprinting back and forth for a while now, cradling a girl in his arms, while Cha Eun-ju, nestled against him, drew the owl bear's aggro with her dark magic.
But watching that guy, Lee Seon-ho, Han Sora felt a mix of bewilderment and awe rising within her.
'He's completely different from the others.'
Some body-enhancer types just bolted without saving the people next to them.
Yet this mental-buffer support kid was dashing around desperately to do what he could.
And looking back, his tactical orders to kill the owl bear had been surprisingly detailed.
He'd first checked if she, an archer, had a skill to finish it off. Then asked Kim Isabel, who wielded holy power, if she could cast a binding spell with it. When she said it'd take time, he'd jumped in bodily to buy it himself.
His commands were so smooth, like he'd fought this battle a dozen times before. No way that was examinee-level skill.
That kind of judgment? Pro hunter territory, or at least upperclassman at the academy.
'No wonder Cha Eun-ju trusts him. If he were my partner, I'd lean on him too.'
…Man, she almost wished Seo Woo-jin was more like Lee Seon-ho.
Someone who couldn't even frontline properly, versus this guy who was basically the party's real leader.
The coward who fled when it mattered most paled against the one sacrificing his body when it counted.
His support aspirations or lack of combat skills? They felt trivial now.
"…Grant me your merciful power…"
-Vroooom!
"Eeeek!!"
"Hoo, hoo, hoo…"
…Would those two be okay?
Nearly a full minute in, Kim Isabel was still chanting, and Lee Seon-ho looked on the brink of collapse.
Yet he never let go of Cha Eun-ju in his arms. Han Sora prayed he'd hold out till the end.
-Vroooom!
'Ah...!'
Even from a distance, she could see the monster's swing barreling toward them, forcing her to wince.
That owl bear hit would mean serious injury—no doubt. Praying they'd both survive, Han Sora—
'…Huh?'
Just before the strike engulfed them, she witnessed something unbelievable.
-Thud!
"Ahak!!"
Cha Eun-ju, who'd been held in Lee Seon-ho's arms the whole time, suddenly tumbled to the ground like she'd been tossed aside.
-Splat!!
"Guh…"
…And in her place, Lee Seon-ho took the full blow alone and collapsed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
'…Ah.'
My head's ringing.
The impact feels like my whole body's shattering, mind going blank.
'Right… what happened again.'
The owl bear's palm came flying at me and Cha Eun-ju at the end.
No way for both of us to escape, so I'd hurled her aside like a lifeline.
Squeezed out every last drop of strength to fling her to safety, then I…
I… just stayed there, alone, right in the path of the attack.
'They say major injuries like this don't hurt at first, right?'
Bullshit. The pain's excruciating, and my brain won't think straight.
Usually, the brain pumps adrenaline to offset shock pain, but maybe overusing Adrenaline Burst drained it all.
Hit my limit already—no reserves left.
'Yeah, Cha Eun-ju…'
…Looks okay.
She's staring at me blankly from the dirt, but thankfully, only I took the hit.
Good. That's how it should be. Her safety matters way more than mine.
I couldn't bear seeing my girl hurt because of me.
…Not that I'm actually dying or anything. Anyway.
-Thud!
"..."
My body, airborne what felt like forever, hit the ground. Bones that snapped earlier jolt inside with fresh agony. No scream escapes, though.
Wonder if holy power can fix this? Gotta know this world's medical tech first.
Probably needs a full saintess for emergency care. But with saintess candidate Kim Isabel here, maybe she can manage.
…Oh right, she's got that male phobia. If I pass out, Suggestion might wear off. Then what about healing?
'Can't… organize my thoughts.'
Feels like my mind's drifting with the pain. Is this what a head injury's like?
At least my eyes still work—got one last situational check.
-Whoosh!
Light whips erupted from the earth, several strands wrapping the owl bear.
-Pierce!
Then an arrow from Han Sora's position nailed it right between the eyes.
"...Hey! …Seon-ho, snap out of it...!!"
Cha Eun-ju finally scrambled up, running toward me with a tearful face.
'Everyone's safe… time to rest.'
…Mana's almost gone too. Can't maintain Suggestion much longer, so no counting on Isabel's healing.
Just pray the academy rescue team finds us quick.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
-Pierce!
'Grrrooo…'
-Thud!
A single arrow lodged in the massive monster's forehead. The owl bear's body toppled sideways.
An impossible feat for four academy examinees—but the girls couldn't celebrate the win.
"Seon-ho, wake up!! Seon-ho!!"
"H-How…"
"…Hey, Lee Seon-ho! You okay?! Hey!!"
One guy lay crumpled after taking the monster's final blow, limp on the ground.
Lee Seon-ho, who'd pushed his body hardest throughout—his safety trumped loot or kills for them.
"No, Seon-ho!! No!!!"
"C-Calm down, Eun-ju! Moving him suddenly could be dangerous!"
"Seon-hoooo!!"
"..."
Cha Eun-ju wailing like her lover was dying. Han Sora watching the fallen boy with worried eyes.
And Kim Isabel approaching the barely breathing man, fear battling her instincts.
'Hurry… I need to heal him…. I have to…'
It terrified her.
Not just approaching, even looking straight at him felt impossible.
Her mind screamed for emergency aid, but her healer's fatal flaw—male phobia—held her back.
'Why… why torment me even now…'
Each step dredged up memories urging her to flee.
Terror enveloped her like tentacles or rising mud. She wanted to bolt.
Yet her feet inched toward Lee Seon-ho.
'…Today alone, he's saved my life three times.'
Chased by goblins after getting separated in the woods.
Trip and lag behind fleeing the owl bear ambush.
…And just now, buying time for her holy spell to take down the beast.
'Still scared. Heart pounding like before was no illusion, but…'
She wasn't selfish enough to leave a three-time savior unpaid.
And right now, what scared her more than men? Losing him without even a proper thank-you.
"P-Please, come out, you two…. I-I need to, h-heal him…"
"Isabel…! S-Save Seon-ho! Please, I-I can't lose him…!!"
"Step back first, Cha Eun-ju! Let Isabel heal!"
"Hwaaang, Seon-hooo…"
Bearing heavy responsibility, she cautiously removed his shirt, channeling holy power into his bare skin.
Faint breath clung on. But his state? Unrecognizable as human.
Shattered bones everywhere, limbs' muscles shredded. A miracle he was alive.
'He suffered this much… and I hesitated because of fear?'
He'd carried her when she fell—her fault in his wounds too.
Behind her veil, guilt tears flowed as she poured every ounce of holy power into him. The other two prayed for his recovery.
…And then.
"I-I'm here to help, Han Sora!!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
…The belated 'protagonist' arrival was met only by three women's icy glares.