Chapter 4

In an instant, the surroundings fell silent.

Lydia, who had closed her eyes in anticipation of the Creature’s attack, cautiously opened them when no attack came.

The Creature’s enormous body collapsed right before her eyes.

Thud.

Its severed head rolled across the ground before bumping lightly against Lydia’s feet and coming to a stop.

…Ah.

It had happened in the blink of an eye, but Lydia immediately understood what had happened.

The cut was unnaturally clean.

In this world, those capable of wielding supernatural abilities were called Awakeners.

Among them, those who possessed abilities on an entirely different level were called Transcendents.

And among all the different Awakeners, only a Transcendent could use supernatural abilities with such purity and precision.

And if there was only one Transcendent who could possibly be here…

There can only be one man.

Lydia slowly turned her head and looked at the person who had saved her.

Ludwig.

Blood from the Creature dripped from the sword in his hand.

Yet his clothes were strangely immaculate.

From head to toe, he was completely flawless, without even the slightest sign of disarray, making it impossible to believe he had just fought a battle.

…What a monster.

Whenever she saw things like this, Lydia was reminded all over again that he was a male lead.

He seems even stronger than before.

Ever since their days at the military academy, Lydia had witnessed Ludwig Claudewitz’s overwhelming martial prowess countless times.

Although Lydia wasn’t an Awakener and therefore had few opportunities to interact with him, she knew in detail just how terrifying Ludwig’s supernatural abilities were.

As expected, I really should avoid getting involved with him as much as possible…

At that very moment, Ludwig turned his head and looked at Lydia.

His cold blue eyes stared directly at her.

Lydia flinched violently.

Soon, Ludwig walked toward her.

“Lydia Preston.”

The moment she heard his low voice, goosebumps spread all over her body.

“…Thank you. You saved my life.”

Lydia calmly bowed her head in gratitude.

First, I’ll just bow as low as possible.

“If you hadn’t helped me, I really might have died. I will never forget this kindness for as long as I live.”

Regardless of her personal feelings toward Ludwig, he was someone Lydia absolutely could not afford to make an enemy of.

He already dislikes me. I can’t make things worse.

If she gave Ludwig, who already disliked her for no apparent reason, an actual reason to hate her, there was no telling what he might do.

However, Ludwig showed no reaction to Lydia’s thanks.

What? Did he not hear me?

Perhaps he was simply ignoring her. After all, he had never liked Lydia in the first place.

It didn’t matter.

Having decided that she had shown sufficient courtesy, Lydia politely bowed her head once more.

“Then I’ll be going now. Goodbye.”

But before Lydia could even take a step, Ludwig spoke.

“…You’re injured.”

What?

For a moment, Lydia wondered if she had heard him correctly.

As Lydia froze in confusion, the pleasant low voice continued.

“You should get treated before you leave.”

His voice was gentle and concerned.

What is this? Has he finally gone crazy?

Hearing words she never thought would come from him left Lydia completely bewildered.

Ludwig was generally a polite person, but he didn’t show goodwill toward just anyone.

No, more precisely, he maintained an equal distance from everyone by treating them with impeccable courtesy. The fact that Lydia had managed to draw even the faintest hint of contempt from him was remarkable in itself.

He’d sooner mock me than worry about me.

As she thought that, a palm stained bright red suddenly entered her field of vision.

…Ah.

Come to think of it, Lydia had just vomited blood.

Lydia was practically a civilian, and she had been injured badly enough to cough up blood while trying to stop a Creature. Of course, Ludwig would recommend that she get treatment.

Of course, she hadn’t actually been injured by the Creature. It was merely the side effect of drawing upon her life force.

“This is… fine. I’m not seriously injured, so I’ll go see a civilian doctor. Thank you for your concern.”

Lydia quickly drew a line between them.

He probably just said it out of courtesy.

Even someone like Ludwig couldn’t simply send a woman in this state away without saying anything. He probably hadn’t meant anything by it.

In situations like this, she needed to know when to politely refuse!

I must look pretty awful right now. If even that man is acting like this, I must really be a mess.

At that moment, Ludwig’s brows narrowed ever so slightly, but Lydia was too pleased with her own clever response to notice.

“Big Sis!”

A desperate voice came from somewhere in the distance.

“Sylvia?”

“Big Sis!”

Sylvia, her face a complete mess from crying, rushed over and threw her arms around her sister.

“Thank goodness… I really thought you were going to die, Big Sis…”

Lydia hurriedly patted her sister’s back to comfort her. But that only made Sylvia cry even harder.

…So she didn’t leave after all.

Lydia had felt relieved after confirming that the maid was taking Sylvia away, which was why she had used the ring.

But seeing her crying like this, it seemed she had witnessed everything.

“I’m fine. I just… coughed up a little blood.”

“How is that supposed to be fine?!”

She didn’t fall for it.

Sylvia was always annoyingly perceptive at times like this.

And while Lydia was soothing Sylvia, who was bawling like a child, she suddenly realized something.

Wait… Ludwig is still here.

Click, click. Lydia desperately tried to get her sluggish brain working.

And then she finally noticed.

Ludwig was watching the sisters with an intrigued expression.

…Ah!

The situation had been so chaotic that she had completely forgotten.

Lydia had worked so hard to prevent her younger sister from meeting any of the male leads, only for all that effort to go up in smoke this easily!

Lydia hurriedly hid Sylvia behind her and bowed deeply.

“Thank you very much for your help. Then we’ll be going.”

With that, she took Sylvia’s shawl off and pulled it over her sister’s head.

“Huh? Big Sis, what are you doing? Are we playing?”

“Yes. So let’s hurry home. What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”

Lydia bowed once more toward Ludwig before quickly taking Sylvia away.

Or, at least, she tried to.

“Urgh!”

If it hadn’t been for the nausea suddenly rising from within her, she definitely would have made a quick escape.

Lydia instinctively covered her mouth and staggered.

Ah…

Damn it.

Whether it was because her tension had finally eased or because she had pushed herself too far…

The blood soaking her hand was bright red once again.

…This is bad.

Her stomach churned, and her head spun.

She couldn’t collapse here…

“Big Sis!”

Sylvia hurriedly supported Lydia, her face filled with alarm.

“Excuse me, please help my sister. Please? I’m begging you. Help us.”

Hey! Who are you asking for help from right now?!

But Lydia’s desperate scream remained trapped inside her head.

After what seemed to be a brief exchange, a large pair of arms suddenly lifted Lydia off the ground.

Looking up at Ludwig through her blurred vision, Lydia thought—

Forget social etiquette and everything else. I should’ve just run away earlier…

A gentle hand stroked her hair.

Is it Mom?

That couldn’t be.

The mother Lydia had known before she was possessed into this world was someone she could no longer see, while Lydia’s mother in this life had already passed away long ago.

…Still, this isn’t bad.

Lydia didn’t know whose hand it was, but the comfort it provided was something she hadn’t experienced in a long time.

Normally, she lived a busy life as the head of the household and as her younger sister’s guardian.

She had been too busy to have any time to indulge in childish behavior.

It wasn’t as though she had ever particularly resented it…

But it would be a lie to say she had never been tired.

I’ll rest just a little longer.

This time, Lydia felt warmth gently stroking her cheek as she luxuriated in a drowsy sleep.

It was a rare moment of rest.

Although her consciousness hadn’t fully returned yet, Lydia instinctively knew.

Once she opened her eyes, she would have to return to her hectic daily life without even a moment to catch her breath.

I have to take care of Sylvia, develop the Purifier drug, make money, take care of the household…

Of course, by “taking care of the household,” she didn’t mean ordinary housework.

It was closer to rebuilding her family.

Thinking about her suffocating reality, Lydia sighed. Her consciousness naturally began thinking about her “daily life.”

I just want to sleep soundly. When was the last time I actually slept in? I don’t think I’ve done it even once since I was ten.

Thinking about it made her even less willing to open her eyes.

A warm blanket, a soft bed, a comfortable temperature, and just the right amount of humidity.

This space, perfectly optimized for sleep, was so flawless that Lydia wanted to install one in her own home even if it cost a fortune.

Hmm?

Wait.

I want to install it at home?

Then that meant this wasn’t home.

Lydia suddenly snapped awake.

Come to think of it… why was I sleeping in the first place?

The moment she became conscious of herself, the events immediately before she collapsed flashed rapidly through her mind.

Going outside, the Rift that suddenly appeared, Sylvia, the disgusting Creature.

And then…

Ludwig!

Flash.

Lydia opened her eyes.