Chapter 236

Translator: Kell | Editor: Weasalopes

Words and Hearts

Paula was in the dorms with the warriors from Jarazack, tending to the wounded, when the sound of an explosion echoed throughout the campus . Hikaru told her to “heal them, but not too much that she’d draw attention” . It didn’t quite sit right with her, knowing she could heal them completely, but she had no other choice . Her abilities had to be kept secret .

「What was that?!」

The deafening sound came from the yard, followed by the earth rumbling . What’s happening? she thought . Hikaru was not here . Is he over there?

「Calm down, young lady . 」one man said . 「Hey! Those who can move, follow me! We’re gonna see what’s going on . Wait, where are you going?!」

Feeling uneasy, Paula bolted out of the room . She was running down the hallway when suddenly, it turned bright outside .

That’s Lavia’s magic that Hikaru-sama carries around . There are still enemies around and he’s out there fighting alone . I may not be able to do much, but I can heal him if anything happens .

Hikaru always faced enemies alone, almost never bringing Paula with him . Instead, he asked her to stay somewhere safe .

But what if he gets hurt? Who will help him if he’s in danger?

Paula was about to step out of the building when she heard a thunderous roar . Fear seizing her heart, she grasped both her hands tightly over her chest .

「I-If Hikaru-sama’s there…」she muttered, lips trembling, and started running once more .

What she saw was a huge drakon hovering in the skies . She had just conquered her fear, and now her legs were shaking . The gigantic creature watched the ground with animosity . Then a magic circle as big as the drakon appeared .

Paula was prepared to die . She had never seen or heard of a magic circle that big . It had to be one of those spells that appeared only myths and fables, spells that could destroy a whole mountain, stop a river from flowing, or part the sea . The magic circle was pointed in her direction .

「Hikaru-sama…?」

But the threat vanished in no time at all . A black beam shot from on top of a roof . Someone wearing a black coat was up there . It had to be Hikaru . The drakon’s magic circle disappeared and the creature plummeted to the ground .

「Wow… Incredible! You’re so amazing, Hikaru-sama!」

Her fear-ridden heart was now filled with hope . I should go to him, she thought . I’m sure he’s exhausted . I can make him some tea .

Overjoyed, she headed to where Hikaru was . On the way, she noticed a lot of people coming from the other direction . Lavia was with them . Paula assumed that they were guards that she called for help .

Lavia’s here, too . That’s even better . They must be cold . I can give them something warm to drink .

Hikaru was talking to the guards with his silver mask on . Paula knew that he put the mask on whenever he did something he didn’t want others to find out about . He didn’t bother wearing it during Ludancia’s attack, but the drakon matter—where the creature came from, she didn’t know—was a different story altogether . He didn’t want to get involved in it .

「…Ah . 」

The expressionless masked man cast a glance at Lavia . Lavia stared at the mysterious man with a serious look as though she was aware of everything going on, and flashed a smile . Hikaru smiled broadly in response .

It was as though they understood each other well, like they just connected naturally—a sign that they fully trusted each other .

「………」

I know . They’re lovers and I should be happy about their good relationship .

「So why?」

But she couldn’t stop the stinging in her heart .

Hikaru noticed Paula heading towards him with Mana Detection . She stopped halfway, however, and turned back . He wondered what was going on .

「So you’re saying a drakon destroyed this whole place and you drove it away?!」the head of the guards said, repeating Hikaru’s explanation .

Hikaru calmly nodded . He had already stuffed Drake into the Dimension Dragon Box so the guards wouldn’t see him . The white drakon didn’t want to, but his color would make him stand out, leaving Hikaru not much of a choice .

「That’s what I’ve been saying . 」Hikaru replied .

「Then where’s the drakon?!」

「Who knows? Maybe it escaped . 」

「You expect me to believe that—」

「Anyway, I’m leaving . You guys can do whatever you want . 」

「H-Hey!」

Hikaru turned around and scuttled towards the back of the building, activating his Stealth . He breathed a sigh as he removed the mask .

All right, then . You guys can clean the place up . Right now, I need to establish an alibi about what I was doing when the drakon was around . I should ask Paula for help .

Paula returned to the dorms, but not where the wounded were . She was somewhere far, alone . Hikaru waited for the warriors from Jarazack to pass by before making his way to where she was .

「Paula? What are you doing here?」

She was at the end of a dark hallway .

「Huh? H-Hikaru-sama?!」

Hikaru was caught by surprise . Even in the darkness, he could tell there were tears in her eyes .

「What’s wrong? Did something happen in the dorm while I was gone?」

「I-It’s nothing! Nothing happened!」

That can’t be true, Hikaru thought . The Paula he knew was always positive and cheerful . Her crying in a dark place like this meant something definitely happened .

「Are you hurt or something—」

「I-I’m fine! I’m okay, really . I’ll be going now . I still need to heal the wounded . 」

Hikaru grabbed her hand from behind as she passed by him .

「Tell me what’s wrong . 」he said .

Hikaru didn’t know what to do in these kinds of situation . Paula clearly needed help, and it felt like she was avoiding him . Should I call Lavia? he wondered . His Instinct told him no . It was he himself who needed to speak to her .

They were silent for a while . Then unable to bear the silence any longer, Paula spoke .

「Hikaru-sama… Can I really stay by your side?」

「Where’d this come from?」

「It’s just… I’ll get in the way between you and Lavia-chan . 」

「You’re needed . If you weren’t around, Claude might’ve not survived . 」

「………」

No . This is not what she wants to hear . What does she want? I don’t know .

「So I’m of use to you…?」

「Of course . 」

「I see… I’m glad, then . 」Paula smiled . But it was clear that she was forcing it .

「…Paula . 」

I get it . Now’s the time to tell her .

「It’s too cold here . Let’s go somewhere else . 」

「Huh? Hikaru-sama?!」

Hikaru dragged Paula into a nearby room . Dim, orange light filled the entire room as he turned on the magic lamp . It was just as cold here as the hallways, but the room was equipped with a heater . By the wall beside the window was a metal board with oil inside that warmed up when the handlebar was turned .

Hikaru brought two chairs in front of the metal board . He offered the other one to Paula while he himself sat down .

「Hikaru-sama…?」Paula was confused . She didn’t why they moved here .

「Paula, I’m not from this world . 」

She stiffened at the sudden confession . 「H-Hikaru-sama, you—」

「It’s true . This body belonged to a boy from this world, but my soul is from another . You saw the notes in Zubura left by Oota Masaki, right? He’s Japanese and he came from a different world . I came from the same place as him . 」

「No! You can’t!」Paula rose from her seat . 「Don’t… Please don’t tell me your secret!」

「Paula . 」

Hikaru wrapped his hands around hers, as if to calm her down . She sat back down with a thump .

「I’ve been meaning to tell you… Um, I’m really awful at expressing emotions, but…」he said, turning his face away, and cast a glance at Paula . 「I really need you… Not just that, you’re important to me . So much so that I don’t want others to have you . 」

He didn’t love her like he did Lavia, but the feelings he had for Paula was more than that of a friend’s . When did I start feeling like this about her? he wondered . He just happened to save her once at first . Later on, she became a member of his party . He believed she would never betray him . His heart raced when she got a makeover .

Hikaru needed to think it over . What did he think of her? How should he face her? He had his answer now .

Paula sat there with her mouth open, tears streaming down her face .

「Do you really have to cry?」

「O-Of course… I’m just… so happy…」Paula wiped the tears off with her forefinger . 「Can I really stay by your side?」she asked in a sweet, nasally voice .

「Yes . 」

「Forever?」

「Sure . 」

「Forever and ever and ever?」

「Of course . I’m prepared for it . 」

Tears began welling up in her eyes again, but with a red face, she flashed a bright smile .

「Hikaru-sama!」

「Whoa!」

She embraced Hikaru all of a sudden . They almost fell over, but he managed to hang on .

「I-I’m so glad… I always wondered… how long I can stay… can I even stay… I never really thought about it that much before, but recently…」

「…I see . 」

It was easy to imagine that Paula felt worried when she saw Claude and Luka . I urged Claude to talk to Luka, when I should’ve done the same to Paula, Hikaru thought as he gently tapped Paula’s back .

He was simply delaying the matter by “trying to find the perfect opportunity” or “tell her once things settled down” . He felt awful as he imagined her suffering all the while .

「I’m so, so happy… I want to be by your side forever…」

「Sure, that’s fine by me . You can stay for as long as you like . 」

Wait . This sounds like a proposal . Eh, whatever .

「Paula, would you listen to my story? It won’t take long . Although it might leave you shocked . 」

「I’d be glad to . 」Paula pulled herself away slowly then kissed Hikaru on the lips, catching him off guard .

「P-Paula?!」

「Ehehe… This is to make my oath . That I will offer my body and soul to you . Ehehe…」

「B-But you can’t just—」

「Ehehehe…」

Hikaru couldn’t stop his face from turning red . He was aware of Paula’s feelings for him, but she had never expressed it directly as she did now .

「I actually got permission from Lavia… Ehehe…」

「What do you mean?!」

Paula blushed, fidgeting as she held her hands between her thighs .

「Hikaru-sama got my first kiss… Ehehe…」she said, covering her face with both hands this time and flailing her feet about .

Her expression was becoming softer and softer . Hikaru would need a little bit more time before he could tell her the truth .