CH 33

Chapter 33 – Careless for but a moment

Translator: Yonnee

—

It seemed like the doctor made a house visit while I was unconscious. The fever went down faster than I thought. Now, only three days after the fever broke out, I could already sit up and eat.

It’s still not easy to move because I constantly felt so sluggish, but my mind was clear.

Three burdensome pairs of eyes watched me as I ate the cream soup that Uncle Hans made for me.

“…Aren’t you going to work, Father and Brother?”

Streaming through the windows, the sunlight was enough to tell me that it’s a little past noon. However, the two men were still dressed in comfortable indoor clothes, just pacing back and forth inside my room.

Like caged predators, slow and directionless.

Right then, as Mom was feeding me the soup herself, she couldn’t hold back and soon told them off.

“Stop it, both of you. Rin’s uncomfortable. Honey, shouldn’t you and David hurry up and dress for work? You need to go out to the garrison and see how everything’s going there, right?”

“No, I’ll stay here and watch my daughter eat.”

“The same goes for me, Mother.”

“She’s uncomfortable! It’s true that we’re all family, but all the men should get out!”

Mom’s patience ran out. She got up and pushed both of them out personally, and all they could do in response was grumble but walk on out as they were led to the door. They hovered by the door and made sure to say one final thing though.

“Rin, as soon as you’re all better, this big brother of yours will take you to the garrison! Ah, that’s right. I’ll also buy you the new romance novel that’s popular in the capital!”

“This father of yours will buy you a new bow! I’ve already talked to Benjamin. You can look forward to it!”

Unlike what they’re saying however, the tone of their voices was so contradictorily remorseful that I laughed.

“Goodness, there’s no such thing as moderation with you two.”

Mom shook her head as slightly exasperated, then she sat back down on the chair next to my bed. As Mom looked at me proudly after I ate all the soup, really, there was also a determined look in her eyes as she gazed at me.

Of course, I liked how fiercely attentive she was to me.

“Do you want me to bring you something for dessert? Let’s see, what would be good…”

Mom muttered as she tidied up the tray.

Vaguely recalling one particular fruit, I muttered.

“Peaches?”

“Are you craving peaches? Coincidentally, Hans brought some from the city when he went there yesterday… Give me a moment.”

It seemed like Mom was happy to hear that there’s something I’d like to eat. Instead of stopping her, I added softly.

“Please bring some ice, too, Mom. To make the peaches cold.”

“…Alright. Mom will get you everything you want.”

Mom’s voice trembled. I felt relieved when it looked like no tears would be shed this time.

Whenever I was sick, Mom’s expression would always twist with so much remorse.

She must be remembering the fire that broke out in the past.

They had been careless for but a moment, and they had already compensated for it several times over, but it seemed like they were still stuck in the past.

Indeed, the past was not an easy thing to shake off.

It had been such a long time ago, but I also reflected on the past, recalling Ciel because I saw him in a dream.

Though Guides and Espers would manifest differently, there’s no significant characteristics to note. Perhaps, the biggest difference was that an Esper’s abilities would become apparent as they manifested.

On the other hand, a Guide’s manifestation took on a different shape.

I had been hiding my right hand under the blanket since earlier—the one with burn scars—but I soon raised it up. Flower patterns could be seen engraved above the faint red scars.

At the peak, the flower pattern that could be seen was the shape of a rose. As it appeared exactly on the scar, it looked very much like a pink gisella rose.

I observed my right arm for a while, but I eventually laid back down on the bed and closed my eyes, focusing on the latent energy swirling within me.

My body was now full of a warm, refreshing energy.

An Esper would be guided through this energy.

It could be seen as a method of pushing out an Esper’s impure energy while infusing them with new energy. This was the usual method of guiding, while the second method was what I did right before I died.

Directly taking in the impure energy of an Esper.

This was a method of guiding that was fundamentally impossible.

After an Esper manifests, their base physical abilities would start to advance—even if the Esper wasn’t the kind who’d show external abilities.

Since Espers were physiologically different, they had the right physiques to handle their own madness.

However, in turn, a Guide’s body was no different than that of an average person’s. That’s why they must not absorb an Esper’s unstable madness.

As I was organizing my thoughts for a while, Mom came back.

With her was a small glass bowl full of the ice and peaches that I was craving for.

Again, I quickly hid my right hand under the blanket and focused on savoring the peaches that Mom fed me.

I gazed at Mom, I recalled the dream where Ciel appeared. I couldn’t help but think that the peaches I’m eating now were more delicious than the peaches I had in that dream.

In the end, I came to the conclusion that it would be better for me to hide from my family the fact that I had manifested as a Guide.

I don’t wish to worry them any more than this.