Chapter 18: Aftermath

"Alfonso!"

A voice of a woman that contained relief suddenly sounded.

It was no other but Mary.

~Hug~

My eyes widened when Mary suddenly hugged me,

‹What the...›

at the same time, I felt my heart flutter for a moment, to be exact, Alfonso's feeling suddenly galloped me, however,

Such feelings disappeared when I felt my body ache from her sudden hug because of the injury that was caused by the beast I have on my body.

"Ouch..."

I quietly whispered. While she stopped hugging me when she realized I was hurt.

Soon I asked,

"How are the two? Christine and Valentina?"

But upon hearing my words Mary suddenly went quiet as she furrowed her brows.

"Aren't you worried about yourself? I thought... you were going to die!"

Mary continued in a hoarse voice,

"Your bones were broken, I couldn't even believe how you were alive at that moment. I know that you want to change but please take care of yourself!"

She howled, with her shaky voice and tears flowing from her cheeks.

"I was so worried about you! Don't ever do that again!"

When I heard her say that, my heart skipped a beat,

at that moment, I silently stared into her eyes.

My cold gaze then suddenly lost, as I felt my eyes becoming misty.

Only to notice Mary's usually expressionless face contained a lot of worries, and eyes that were puffed red from crying.

I couldn't even tell if this maid was the same person I knew who always had an indifferent gaze.

The hatred I had been harbouring for her abruptly subsided as my heart grew weary.

My jaw immediately began to shake. I couldn't help but open my mouth and speak to her; to be more precise, I was physically unable to control my body.

"I'm..."

Drip! Drip! Drip!

My tears dripped in resonant drops

"Sorry..."

I muttered as hot streams of tears flowed down my cheeks endlessly. Such emotions that stormed inside made me lose control.

"I thought you don't... C—

Hic!

Anymore," My mouth whispered without my knowledge. Only to realize that my lip was moving on its own.

At the same time,

|"Why did you not come back sooner???"|

A flashed footage from Alfonso's past. His speech was bitter and hateful.

But it was too tiny of a scene to know what was going on, even so, when that past rolled into my head.

I could immediately feel waves of emotions burst through my heart once again.

Regret, Hate, Remorse, Broken, and Disgust! Were all combined,

I was unable to control my tears as I sobbed over this one memory from Alfonso's past.

I tried to squeeze my eyelids shut, hoping they would stop, however, it was all for naught as Alfonso's feelings devoured me.

Meanwhile, Mary's eyes widen at my response as her eyes trembled.

"It's not your fault, I just want you to take care of yourself more."

Mary said in a sorrowful tone, but my tears continued as I continuously apologized to her.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

At this moment, Alfonso's emotions overwhelmed me. I couldn't control myself at all.

Why was I even apologizing? It was so bizarre.

But there was this feeling, a feeling where I regretted something.

A feeling that I have sinned.

‹ Is Alfonso apologizing for what he did? ›

I asked inside because this was unexpected.

I even speculated that the memory I saw is one of the reasons why Mary and Alfonso became distant.

‹Just what the hell happened to Alfonso?›

I thought inwardly

.

.

.

.

[After some time passed. Inside a luxurious room, a woman is gently and warmly hugging a boy like a baby with her eyes closed, on the bed]

"..."

After some time of crying, my usual cold gaze finally returned.

While I could feel the warm hand of Mary that was caressing me. For some reason, her warm hug made my heart at ease and stop me from crying.

It was so cozy that I wanted her warmth to last forever.

However, I was feeling embarrassed at this moment.

My cheeks were burning from cringe, I wanted to die and bury my head.

I'm a grown man inside who just cried like a bitch for I don't know the reason, how come I wouldn't feel ashamed? If someone saw this... They might laugh at me.

Followed by my perfectionism, what happened was killing me inside!!!

‹Jesus... Fuck!›

I inwardly muttered, and soon put my thoughts away, as I pondered about what happened at the Bestial Forest.

‹I thought I was going to die...› I contemplated while I realized just how fragile and easy to be killed here.

I couldn't help but think that I was lucky.

If only the assassin was in his best condition at that time, I wouldn't have stood a chance. Fortunately, he fought a capable knight first at that time so he got tired a little. He also underestimated my capabilities leaving him surprised.

But even so, I don't regret the choice I have chosen.

‹Even if I were to die, I would still pick that option and do that again.›

"..."

Thoughts aside though, while I was crying, did perhaps someone hear me bitching other than Mary?

‹Jeez... This is so embarrassing!!!›

I groaned inwardly as I opened my mouth, "Mary, did perhaps anyone hear me...?"

I meekly asked.

Hearing my response, Mary then looked at my flushed face as she chuckled inside.

‹He's so cute...›

Mary could tell that Alfonso is embarrassed, and in order to not make him more embarrassed she decided to lie.

"No, I don't think so, because of the barrier I've set up around the inn. Not even a sound could get out."

I suddenly got a surprised look on my face after I heard her, I couldn't believe just how anxious and paranoid could have Mary been if she also put a barrier around me just to ensure my safety. I expected her to care for Alfonso but not to this extent!

‹Wait... Did she perhaps use one of her secret abilities just to heal me?›

Mary would only utilize this barrier if she is attempting to employ one of her covert skills to prevent being discovered, so I asked within.

However, I couldn't help but think that it was such a waste if she did because... I could still have lived because of the system.

But it's better than nothing, I'm not sure too if I could have died if she didn't do that.

‹No wonder I can feel something weird around my body... the moment I woke up...›

I pondered. Soon, I got curious and tried checking my status.

‹Status!›

I whispered inside and at the same time, my status immediately appeared.

 

 

However, when I saw my current points, I couldn't help but inwardly gasp in surprise.

‹Two hundred sixty-four points?›

I questioned, but I soon realized that these points were acquired because of what I did before.

‹ The change in plot affected the current story now... And the sudden increase in other points was probably because I changed my image toward others. ›

This was also the reason why I had enough points to use 100 points earlier before I collapsed. I was so focused on the fight that seeing the notification of my sudden increase of points, could have led to my death.

Overall, it was a win-win for me. I wanted to smile at this moment, but my sophisticated look kept me from doing so especially when I felt my perfectionism surge up again.

Soon, I asked Mary,

"I'll ask again, how are the two? And how long have I been unconscious?"

She then turned silent for a moment as she counted the days that passed before responding.

"3 days My Lord. The two are just fine so don't worry"

I shook my head in relief then frowned at just how long I have slept.

"Huh? What?"

I then looked at the door to work my ass up, only to see the familiar status of two people behind the closed door.

 

 

 

 

 

‹Wait... Did Mary just lie to me earlier? I thought there were no people!!! Fuck... I think they heard me crying...›

I then clenched my jaw from the cringe.

‹She probably noticed how embarrassed I am and chose not to say it...›

My cheeks soon began to flush red once more. I wasn't able to see their position earlier since I was too preoccupied with my own emotions and thoughts to even consider looking at the door or making an effort to look for individuals.

Anyway, how did they even get in from Mary's barrier in the first place? Well, that's either because Mary allowed them.

‹Aaahhh!!!! Fuck!›

But that feeling didn't last long when I heard the system pop up.

 

 

"..."

Looking at the sudden large amount of points, I went silent

‹I guess... It was worth it...›

I pondered in joy before I walked toward the door and opened it.

………