62 Jealous?
As I watched Ren Von Seraphis diligently tending to each of my Familia members, a wave of shame washed over me.
In my disoriented state, I had inadvertently tightened some bandages too tightly, causing discomfort for the injured.
Meanwhile, Ren's expertise shone through as he employed a peculiar form of magic to cleanse and "disinfect" their wounds before expertly applying bandages with remarkable precision.
His actions displayed a level of skill and proficiency that left me in awe. It was clear that he was no stranger to such situations, handling them with ease and grace.
How useless I felt at that moment...
"Kid, don't just stand there. If you're uninjured, get moving. Go and fetch fresh towels, bandages, and food. Do you expect me to heal their wounds on my own? Hurry up," he commanded.
He was right. Even though I couldn't directly aid, I could still be of assistance. I wouldn't allow myself to collapse, not when their lives hung in the balance.
With determination coursing through me, I swiftly gathered what I had on hand and dashed toward the streets, desperately seeking the supplies we needed.
--- Ren's POV ---
After Bell's tireless efforts in securing much-needed supplies and My Angel's swift assistance in bringing a few skilled healers, the Hestia Familia had managed to patch up their wounded members.
Yet, there remained one somber task before them—the fallen member.
As an eerie calm settled over the scene, I watched them gather around the lifeless body, their faces etched with grief and despair.
Haruhime, the delicate fox, wept uncontrollably, her sorrowful cries piercing the air, while Ais struggled to find any words to say, her voice rendered powerless.
At that moment, my mind wandered back to a distant memory.
Organizing a funeral for my own parents in my life as Ren Amamiya. Did I even shed a tear back then?
No, I did not. I simply found myself gazing at the engraved photographs on their tombstones as if it were an inevitable ritual of life.
Others would extend their condolences with empty words like "sorry for your loss," masking a sorrow they could never fathom.
It was disgusting.
In such circumstances, it was best to give them space.
"...There is nothing we can do to bring the dead back to them, Ais. Let's leave them be for now. We can visit them again in a few days."
As I whispered those words, I gently took her hand, our destination being our Manor where we needed to assess the losses suffered by the Loki Familia.
Though my focus was on our departure, I couldn't help but notice the lingering gaze on our intertwined hands. A small smirk adorned my face.
Keep looking. This is something you will never have in this lifetime...
---
Upon arriving at our Manor, we were ushered into the meeting room where Finn provided us with an update on the extent of the losses incurred, not only by our Familia but by all of Orario.
The news was grim. Nearly 60% of the second and third-class adventurers had perished on this day. Despite our swift action in quelling the monsters as they emerged, we were powerless to prevent the chaos that unfolded while we were still in the depths of the Dungeon.
For the first-class adventurers, their superior skills allowed them to endure the onslaught of lower-level monsters, albeit with grievous injuries that we managed to address once the situation was under control. However, the same could not be said for the lower-ranked adventurers, who struggled to survive even a few fleeting heartbeats. Many had sustained severe injuries, some losing up to 40% of their bodies, rendering any attempts at healing futile, even for healers as skilled as Riveria.
The magnitude of the devastation was such that the Guild deemed this a day that would be etched into our collective memory. Additionally, a general funeral was scheduled to take place in two weeks, allowing sufficient time for the survivors to regroup and find solace amidst the shattered remains of the city. Not only did countless lives perish, but many buildings had also crumbled or become uninhabitable, leaving the city in a state of disarray.
Who knew what the other countries must be thinking now—
My train of thought came to an abrupt halt as I sensed a presence lurking behind Finn. There Wiene stood, silent but piercing, her gaze fixed upon me as if I were a precious treasure.
I had explicitly told her not to entertain any foolish notions... Honestly.
Shaking my head in disbelief, I was about to inquire about our course of action regarding the peculiar Xenos, but my words lodged in my throat as an unbelievable scene unfolded before my eyes.
Ais positioned herself protectively in front of me, her gaze sharp and unwavering, directed at Wiene...
Wait, are you...
Jealous? Really?
Naturally, Wiene averted her gaze the instant Ais directed her piercing stare toward her.
A soft chuckle escaped my lips, my tone tinged with a gentleness I hadn't initially intended.
"Finn, what do you suggest we do with Wiene?"
The idea that Wiene had managed to spark jealousy within Ais brought a sense of delight to my heart.
My own feelings were undeniable, evident even to the most oblivious observer. But when it came to Ais, despite my deep understanding of her, I couldn't dismiss the possibility of her feelings wavering. It remained a variable beyond my control.
However, this jealousy... was proof I shouldn't worry too much.
"Oh... actually, I had been contemplating not revealing everything at once. Especially after the recent situation. I was thinking of gradually dropping hints about benevolent monsters aiding adventurers. Slowly acclimate them to the concept, so that when the truth finally emerges, it won't be as jarring. What are your thoughts?"
It wasn't a bad idea. In the original storyline, everyone learned about it simply because the plot dictated it so. However, in a more realistic scenario, a gradual unveiling seemed more appropriate.
It reminded me of the notion of extraterrestrial life on Earth. Area 51 probably served as a "trailer", planting the seed of curiosity in our minds:
"Could aliens exist?"
Unconsciously, with the passage of enough time and thoughtful pondering, the existence of aliens would no longer be met with overwhelming astonishment, but simply with
"Ah, I knew they existed! Cool!"
Thus, the plan seemed feasible to me as I agreed with him...
---
Author's Note:
Sorry for the delay, but I'm currently busy again with exams. I'm almost done for the summer but I still have a lot to do :)
Ais jealous > Hestia Familia grieving
Also, join the discord, there are many cool things to do there NGL.
