Chapter 168 - 13

Kyouka and everyone in the place were shocked after hearing Kalya's words. They had listened to the explanation from Megumi before and realized that it was impossible to cure Princess Irene at this time. But suddenly, Kalya said she could make Princess Irene's condition better. Of course, this made them doubt the truth of her words.

Clara and her group were also confused when they heard Kalya suddenly offer to heal Princess Irene. On the other hand, Ziel raised his eyebrows after hearing Kalya's words but then understood what she meant after seeing Kalya blink at him secretly.

"Are you sure you can heal Princess Irene, Miss Kalya? If so, how do you cure it?" Kyouka still has doubts about Kalya. Even though she was a teacher and a person from the elf race, Kyouka knew she wasn't a true god. She also knows that Kalya doesn't have one of the two abilities that Megumi has mentioned to heal Princess Irene.

"I'm sure. You can leave it to me. As for how I'm sorry that I can't tell you. This is a healing secret that was passed down from generation to generation only for high elves." Kalya answered it seriously. Even though she lied that she could cure Princess Iris, someone would take her place to do it. Kyouka thought for a moment and didn't answer right away. After she thought for a while, Kyouka finally spoke.

"All right. I handed her over to you. Please heal Princess Irene." Kyouka was still unsure about Kalya. However, she believes that Kalya will not play with other people's lives. Moreover, that person is a princess from the Demon Kingdom.

"Are you sure, Kyouka?" Megumi asked Kyouka. She felt the same as her on Kalya's words earlier. She doesn't know how Kalya will do it, but she doubts it can cure Princess Irene.

"I know what you're thinking. But we have no other choice. The most important thing right now is to heal Princess Irene in every way we have. We could hand it over to the Demon Kingdom under such conditions, but I'm afraid that would be a problem. Besides, the Demon Kingdom also has no way of curing her. I can't bear to see that girl suffer any longer." Kyouka explained the reason to Megumi. He only hoped that Kalya could cure Princess Irene and not worsen her condition.

"I understand if it's your decision. Is that okay for you, Hikaru? Sintaro?" Megumi nodded and asked Hikaru and Sintaro what they thought about it.

"I don't mind because it was Kyouka who wanted to heal her from the start. I will follow Kyouka's decision." Hikaru agreed with Megumi and Kyouka.

"Whatever!" Sintaro answered briefly in a harsh tone.

"What happened to you?" Hikaru felt that there was something strange about Sintaro's attitude towards them.

"Nothing. just do as you please." Sintaro spoke nonchalantly.

Hikaru and the other two heroes were confused about responding to Sintaro's words. But they decided to keep quiet rather than make Sintaro's mood worse.

"We will leave Princess Irene in your hands, Miss Kalya. We have to go take care of Prince Viron first." Kyouka bowed slightly at Kalya and left with Hikaru and the other heroes. When Hikaru and the other heroes approach Prince Viron, Prince Viron's subordinates become wary of them. But not long after that, they let Megumi take care of Prince Viron after hearing Kyouka's explanation.

"Are you able to cure it, Miss Kalya?" Clara asked the same question Kyouka had asked. She hopes Kalya can heal Princess Irene.

"Of course. I can't lie at a time like this, can I??" Kalya smiled at Clara.

"I understand! I'm sorry for asking that! Please heal Princess Irene!" Clara lowered her head because she shouldn't ask that question again.

"You don't need to apologize because you didn't do anything wrong. Don't worry. I will cure Princess Irene. You can rest somewhere else first. I need a quiet place to heal her. Ah, I need Ken to help me here. So apart from him, you all can go. Please help me bring Princess Irene into the hut, Ken." Kalya asked Ziel to carry Princess Irene to a hut not far from the sparring place. Luckily the area was not affected by the fight between Hikaru and Prince Viron.

"Eh!? Let me come too! I thought you would need my help later!" Princess Freya volunteered herself to Kalya.

"Okay. You can come along. But only you. The others can wait elsewhere." Kalya couldn't help but agree after seeing her face. She quickly added another word to stop Princess Aishia from volunteering herself as well. Princess Aishia felt a little disappointed after hearing that.

"Please accompany Miss Clara for me." Ziel whispered to Princess Aishia after seeing the disappointment on her face. He knew Princess Aishia was jealous because Princess Freya was allowed to accompany Ziel in that place. He doesn't want to create new problems for the two princesses.

"I understand! I will accompany her." Princess Aishia smiled broadly when Ziel asked her for help. She thought at least Ziel was still thinking about her. She believes he still has a chance to stand in the same place as Kalya and Princess Freya in the future.

After that, Ziel brought Princess Irene to a hut not far from that place. Kalya and princess Freya followed behind him.

Clara and the other girls looked for a place to rest not far from the hut. Dalvin, James, and Rhea decided to return to the castle because they thought they could do nothing. They also give reasons for wanting to sleep early to recharge their energies. So, they can be fresher at the barbecue tonight.

Clara and the other girls didn't stop them because Dalvin and the other two looked tired. They also want to return to the castle if not waiting for Ziel in that place.

"Clara, why do you seem to care so much about Princess Irene? After all, you just met her. You also know she and her brother are the heroes' sparring opponents. She even almost hurt Kyouka. But why are you still worried about her?" Princess Iris suddenly asked Clara. Princess Aishia and Lilith were also curious and turned their eyes to Clara.

"Ah, that's because... when I first saw Princess Irene, I remembered when I first met you, Iris." Clara smiled nostalgically.

"Remember me? What makes you remember me when you see her? I'm sure we don't look alike at all." Princess Iris became confused by the answer given by Clara. The other two girls also felt the same way with Princess Iris.

"Maybe you didn't notice, Iris. When I first met you, your face looked very lonely." Clara looked directly into Princess Iris' eyes. She remembered the first time they met at the academy. Princess Iris's body trembled after hearing that. Clara's words had reminded her of her past.

"Is it just because of that?" Princess Iris asked again and confirmed another reason behind her actions.

"Of course, only because of that. From the first time I saw her, I could tell she was a good girl because she looked like you, Iris. Since then, I have felt that I care for her because she reminds me of the old you." Clara smiled sweetly at Princess Iris.

"What are you saying, Clara!?" After hearing Clara say it so openly, Princess Iris's face turned red with embarrassment. Her behavior made Princess Aishia and Lilith smile. But suddenly, Princess Iris remembers what Clara said in the last sentence.

"How am I now?" Princess Iris asked Clara again. She is curious about what other people think of her now.

"Hmm… how should I put it… you look more colorful now. You smile more often and are not as gloomy as before. You weren't like this when we first met. You started to change since you came back from the survival test in the Alba Mountain range." Clara compares the old Princess Iris to the current one.

"Is that so?" Princess Iris asked Clara and the other two girls.

"You do seem to smile more often now than when you first entered the academy. At first, I thought you were a gloomy girl. But after I realized the reason at that time, I even stayed away from you. Please forgive me." Princess Aishia bowed slightly to Princess Iris. Meanwhile, Lilith just kept quiet and listened to their conversation. She didn't remember how Princess Iris was back then because she thought of her as one of her guinea pigs.

"You don't need to apologize. I understand why you did it. I think it's natural for you to act like that to me. I would probably do the same if I were in your position." Princess Iris smiled at Princess Aishia. She never blamed or hated those who avoided her back then. She's even grateful that she could meet a true friend like Clara because they avoided her.

"Thank you." Princess Aishia was grateful that Princess Iris didn't think about what she had done to her in the past. She could feel that Princess Iris was saying it sincerely.

"So, what's the thing that made you turn into who you are now, Iris?" Clara cut them off.

"Eh, maybe it's because my cursed mana disappeared, and being able to make friends with so many people made me like this." Princess Iris averted her eyes after remembering what happened to her after returning to the academy from the survival test back then. The main reason for her change was the boy who wasn't with them at the moment.

"Hmm...suspicious. I'm sure that wasn't the cause. I'm also sure it wasn't me who caused it. Could it be that someone else caused it?" Clara narrowed her eyes at Princess Iris. Clara couldn't believe what she had said earlier.

"I want to know that too." Princess Aishia helps Clara urge Princess Iris.

"Ugh! So you're the same as Clara, Princess Aishia? I already said it didn't I? I have no other reason than that." Princess Iris insisted on making them believe her words.

The three of them keep arguing about it while waiting for Kalya to finish healing Princess Irene. Lilith could only sigh heavily, listening to their conversation.

***

In a small hut not far from where Hikaru and Prince Viron had fought, Ziel laid Princess Irene on a lounger. When they entered the hut, Ziel had put up a barrier so that no one else would disturb them or know what they were doing inside.

"I'm sorry that I said it without asking your consent first." Kalya suddenly gripped Ziel's hand tightly. She was afraid that Ziel would be angry with her actions.

"You don't have to worry about that. I'm grateful that you did." Ziel shows that he is not angry with Kalya and thanks to her instead.

"Eh? Is that so?" Kalya was shocked after hearing Ziel's answer. She wanted to help Princess Irene out of pity after hearing her condition from Megumi.

"Of course. You know Miss Clara cares about this girl, don't you? She wanted to help her anyway. At the same time, I can't suddenly heal her in that place. So, what you've done right now makes my job easier." Ziel had intended to heal Princess Irene secretly before. But luckily, Kalya said that and was able to convince the heroes to hand over Princess Irene to her.

"Good thing you're not angry. But I'm a little jealous of Clara." Kalya pouted and looked away from Ziel. She started to act spoiled when only the three of them were there.

"I feel that way too. I even thought she was just as important as us." Princess Freya agrees with Kalya's words.

"She is important. But in a different sense. I did this for her based on my responsibility. I will also do the same for you on another basis. If my emotions are not sealed, maybe this is what is called love." Ziel answered seriously. He had never been in love in his previous life. Because of that, he didn't know how it felt. His words made the two girls look at him and smile like a blooming flower.

Princess Freya and Kalya hugged Ziel at the same time. Zie returned their hug and rubbed the backs of the two girls gently. They finally let go of each other not long after because they could not linger in that place.

"It's time to heal this girl." Ziel said to them. Kalya and Princess Freya nodded in response.

A giant spirit circle in the shape of a gear appeared behind Ziel. The gear suddenly moved and glowed. Although for different reasons, Kalya and Princess Freya are always amazed when they see it.

[Time rewind]

A pale grey light enveloped Princess Irene's body and slowly returned the condition of her internal organs to a time when she had not suffered any internal injuries.