NOVEL WEB Chapter 14.5: Change
Chapter 14.5: Change
(Christine's Side)
Witnessing the events unfold before her eyes, Christine was surprised that Alfonso could fight along with Valentina in such perfect coordination.
She can't deny it anymore but accept the fact that Alfonso is a talented and competent person.
.
.
.
.
Soon, as the fight got longer.
The assassin was finally killed by Valentina, however, the beast that got summoned by the assassin galloped and injured Alfonso.
Christine could see that Valentina was already worn out from the earlier fight, and although she still wanted to assist, she no longer had the energy to do so.
Grasping this, she soon felt like a burden to her Lady.
"A useless maid"
That was the only thought that came through her mind.
She also hated the fact that a person like Alfonso whom she considered useless can be this strong.
However, as she was thinking of these.
The beast suddenly jolted toward her.
She tried to run at that moment and dodge the coming attack of the beast but all her efforts were in vain and still got her legs in the process.
"Augh!"
She groaned inwardly from the pain as the day she was born and how she got to this point in her life flashed through her eyes.
Even so, the beast's claw's continuously charged without mercy.
But at that moment, a boy that she never expected suddenly appeared in front of her eyes in a blink of an eye.
It was no other than
"Alfonso"
Her eyes widened and her mouth then opened, only to hear a lacerating sound of his flesh resonate from her ears after.
Splash!!!
Blood then splattered like a river,
‹ Why? ›
She wanted to ask but even so, Alfonso still kept his stand like a man, and soon,
Spruuck!!
The sound of the beast getting eradicated echoed through her ears
She soon quickly noticed that the beast was blown to bits.
Christine couldn't help but open her mouth again in astonishment.
While she could hear Valentina approach her, with a clear worry marked on her face.
"Are you okay?"
Valentina asked as she looked at Christine's injury.
Yet, Christine didn't respond and only looked at Alfonso in surprise as she was still processing what was happening in front of her.
When suddenly,
"Useless!"
She heard Alfonso mutter that word making her snap back in the process.
"..."
Christine then fell silent and can't help but look down in shame when she heard Alfonso,
because... she knows that he was right.
She can't even run anymore because of the injury she got from the beast, though it was not that severe.
It could still greatly reduce her speed in running or even walking.
Then a thought came to her mind again...
‹ I'm truly useless... Maybe perhaps I have not changed. ›
But before she could even fall from her pitiful mindset, a sound of metal approaching rang through her ears.
She then looked at where the sound came from, only to see,
"Kevin"
Seeing him, she thought that it'll all be okay now.
But to her demise,
"Let's go already!"
She realized that she is not going with them to live when she heard Kevin's following words and actions.
"Kevin, Christine must go with us!"
Valentina said as she tried to break free from Kevin's grasp.
However, she was too weak and exhausted to break free.
"If I brought her with us, It won't be that long before the assassin could catch us!
Especially considering how weak I am right now!" Retorted Kevin and continued to carry her.
Looking at this, Christine could not help but cry inside.
She wanted to live at this moment, she begged to be saved too
Especially when she remembered her little brother waiting for her.
However, she also felt guilty for feeling this way when she knows that Lady Valentina is trying to save her even with the cost of her life.
"..."
Realizing this, Christine finally accepted her faith to die here as a sacrifice. No... So to buy for more time.
As to why she thought she'll die here? It's because the assassin might use her to get Valentina.
Christine was not dumb to think that the assassin doesn't know anything about them. And she is not that dense to not notice that they are the target.
Maybe they will even torture her, so she decided at this moment to accept her faith, as she watched Valentina and Kevin disappear.
Soon a voice of a man followed, making her process of thought get disrupted,
"My aim is merely that maid and the miss who fled away, why don't you just run?"
Christine then looked at the assassin approaching and noticed that Alfonso was still in front of her.
She tried to look at the wound that was inflicted on Alfonso's back,
However, she couldn't help but gasp in horror.
She thought that Alfonso didn't get that much injury because he was so calm and didn't even show any slight pain.
But now that she looked at him closer, she was surprised that Alfonso took a hit for her. Because she knew that she would already be dead if it wasn't for him.
And the fact that he is not even flinching from this injury made Christine curious about just what Alfonso experienced in his life that such an injury doesn't make him flinch.
Soon, red particles of mana dazzled around Alfonso,
When she saw this,
Christine immediately thought that Alfonso would either kill her or he would run away and follow Valentina.
She finally speculated that Alfonso saved her earlier because he wanted to look good in front of Valentina.
She soon regretted these thoughts of her when she heard Alfonso speak,
"I want to become a better person, so why not?"
With such a single line, Christine's heart suddenly skipped a beat as she dumbfoundedly looked at Alfonso.
She couldn't help but be astonished, but what can even Alfonso do to a grand master?
It's an admirable action, but this was simply foolish.
Alfonso could get away from this because he has his father as a factor of them not touching him.
Christine could even tell that whoever sent these assassins would be eradicated from the map because of Antelmo's wrath.
But looking at the assassin, it seems like they are prepared to die just to do their jobs. And it looks like, whoever was aiming for Valentina's head had a grudge against them.
However, such thoughts were in vain when Alfonso started charging toward the assassin.
She then noticed that Alfonso took out some bottle of potion, out of nowhere.
This only led to her speculation that he is using pills to get stronger be true.
After that,
a colliding sword between the two followed, but the difference in strength was visible.
She could see how much Alfonso is struggling but to her surprise, Alfonso used his blood to blind the enemy so he can have time to drink the potion.
Soon after the assassin recovered and Alfonso emptied the bottle,
She could see how Alfonso also got stronger in just a little time.
However, Christine realized that using a potion that could strengthen one's ability might destroy someone's body because of the overflowing mana.
Most of them that used these either died from exploding or turned into a cripple. Surviving this was bleak and low because of how hard it is to produce the mana inside you that's overflowing. Because that could result in your body being able to do powerful things but the cost is that it destroys your body.
[But Alfonso is using the system's potions and the potion that Christine is talking about is not the same as she thought]
‹ Just how much did Valentina's words affect Alfonso? ›
Christine asked inside her mind, it even made her intrigued as to why Alfonso even hated commoners for no reason except for Mary who he seemed to look in high regard. And treated differently.
Now that she thinks about it, she never knew who Alfonso really is.
But after thinking more of it, she soon remembered how at first Alfonso seem to be scared of commoners and would always flinch. She even heard sometimes when Mary spoke to her that Alfonso shouldn't be blamed.
At that time she thought it was hypocritical of her, but maybe it had reasons.
Christine has watched Alfonso closely, he is her lady's man, after all, so she observed him carefully and can see his changes.
She then suddenly recalled Alfonso's words again when he first killed a goblin,
|"Yes... Indeed, I was arrogant.
Without me realizing it, I've hurt everyone around me. Especially the people I cared about...
And I'm truly sorry for that."|
The sorrow in his eyes was visible,
She soon grasped that Alfonso is trying his best to change and get out of the past
However, at this moment, Christine could not help but admire Alfonso this time when it all finally made sense.
"I didn't know that a person like you is capable of change... While I think here... I'm still useless as ever."
Christine whispered.
Crack!!!
But her admiration was soon turned into horror when she heard a bone cracking; like potato chips.
A scene of a pitiful boy panting and howling from pain followed.
All of his elegance and composed look disappeared in an instant.
She had never seen Alfonso look so helpless, but all she can do at this moment was watch sorrowfully how Alfonso is doing his best.
She thought that the potion Alfonso used is coming into an effect now.
She could relate to how much Alfonso wants to change because she also wanted to change before.
It then made her think of the past when she also struggled to change and how she hated herself.
Because of who she is, her parents died.
If she was not so playful, useless, and immature that day maybe they would still be alive today.
However, when they died, Christine promised herself that she'll change and grow up like her parents used to say.
And Valentina was the one who gave her that chance and helped her.
But seeing how much Alfonso is struggling like she used to, made her even sad.
She realized just how lucky she is to be given a chance to change, unlike Alfonso who is changing with the exchange of his life.
Soon, a crisp sound of his bones followed again,
This time, it came from Alfonso's left leg.
However, the assassin flew into the air this time.
It even made Christine surprised.
‹ Just how strong Alfonso really is? › She asked inside,
Even so, the assassin soon quickly recovered and Christine could immediately feel the danger that is coming.
—Kwang!—
Her heart raced like never before because she thinks that this time, Alfonso will die soon.
………
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