Chapter 59. Elias...

Chapter 59: 59. Elias...

After several rounds of making a mess of each other, we were drained. Saelith excused herself and went to take a bath. Seeing my opportunity, I finally opened the panel.

? Lilathea’s Blade Harem System! ?

? Evolution state: Mortal human. ?

? Rank: E. ?

? Compatibility rate: 34. ?

? Casllay mana points: 12150. ?

? Lifespan remaining: 5 minutes 39 seconds. ?

? Warning! Extend your lifespan now. ?

Oh, Mother. I’m saved... I even have extra. It’s so nice. The five-minute timer had been staring back at me like death itself. And I thought to myself, I’ve been through many ups and downs to get this far. Literally.

? Lifespan extension! ?

? Extend to 14 days: 10000 Casllay. ?

Before I could slip away from existence, I pressed the buttons like I was playing a rage game, clicking even while it was processing the payment.

? Lifespan remaining: 13 days 23 hours. ?

? Minus 10000 Casllay. ?

? Casllay mana points: 2150. ?

A huge weight was lifted from my shoulders, and I suddenly felt no volume inside. My eyes sank in, the satisfaction of spending Casllay on the right thing and getting my casllay’s worth outshining my exhaustion. Only for a few seconds, though.

"Elias. Are you sure you don’t need another bath?"

Saelith asked, coming out of the bathroom, holding the door for support, dabbing her wet hair with a towel.

"I still can’t walk straight. It’s your fault. Perhaps you should have helped me bathe as well."

Saelith’s actions were already so wifey. Complaining about her husband not putting in effort. At least I could carry her like a princess to the bed and then sleep while cuddling.

It would be the best.

I stood up with too much power, my vision cracked, and suddenly everything came in three images, slightly blurrier than each other. There were three tables, three doors, three Saeliths?

Oh no. How am I going to take care of three Saeliths?

"Elias... are you alright!?"

Whoa, I could even hear three different voices, they must be real! My head went loose, hung down, and then I fell.

"Elias!!!!!"

She loves, no, they love me. He he he.

I was in a black space, as if the writer had decided to just leave half of my next Chapter open and fall asleep.

When I got my senses back, I knew several hours had passed. I was fully tucked in, lying flat like a man in a coffin, but the bed was so comfortable I didn’t need to shift in my sleep.

It was quiet. Very quiet. I gave in and thought, no matter how many hours had passed, I needed to rest. So I forced myself to sleep again.

It happened again, I woke up. I tried to fall asleep once more, but it was harder this time, as my thoughts decided to make a child’s diary.

Then the third time, after a bit of struggle, I found out it was no longer possible for me to fall asleep again. I had to get up. But my eyes wouldn’t listen. Just a little bit more.

Then I felt someone approaching me. A hand touched my forehead, firm but enough to jolt me awake.

My eyes opened to meet a maid uniform. Red shade, a pair of eyes locked on me, tearing up at the sight of me. It was Rue.

"You’re awake!"

Putting everything aside, Rue first leaned down, wrapping her arms around me, putting a nice weight on me.

"I’m so glad you’re awake. We were attacked by some beetles, or whatever they were. And I was so worried about you."

She cried her heart out as I patted her back, my eyes suddenly understanding their job and finding joy in it. I think I could see clearer and better.

I was in a room with no light source, yet no shadows. Everything appeared bright. But putting that aside, I first let Rue be reassured.

"Everything is fine. I’m not dead. In fact, I killed the enemy who attacked the university."

Rue closed the remaining distance, out of the blue, quietly, eating her cries. I... don’t want to assume it. But she wasn’t afraid of losing me, she was afraid of losing her everything.

That’s not good. I need to stop this at some point. I pushed her away gently. She didn’t want to let go and had a confused expression on her face.

"How many days has it been?" I asked, to keep things from getting awkward.

"It’s... been two days." She was still in a mental blur and paused midway. "Your girlfriend, Madam Saelith, called the head nun and another lady, and they put you on medication. I asked to help out."

Oh, so Sister Maren and Saelith. Got it. I relaxed my shoulders.

? That’s what happens when you push past your natural limits in 3 days. Surely I healed you, but your brain needs rest, darling. Don’t think about the lifespan for a moment. ?

Lilathea’s reassurance was on point. I still had 12 days. But her voice popping up out of nowhere, I couldn’t get used to it.

Rue fell silent again, holding one hand in the other, noticing every weird expression I made after hearing Lilathea’s voice.

"Oh." Rue was just trying to get my attention, and it seemed she’d found something.

"Your friend is also here, master."

Rue moved aside and gestured a hand toward her left. I realized the room was bigger and had two beds besides the one I was in. One was empty, and in the other, Wendel was sleeping like a log, his skin healthy, not like the last time, his glasses resting on the table beside the bed.

"Ohh, he’s fine and healthy, right?"

The words came out of my mouth before the emotion did, uncanny. Rue nodded in return, and then it hit me: Wendel had suffered a lot, Mandrisska had sucked his life energy, would he be okay in the future?

? I know your worries, Mark. His lifespan is shortened by a few years, but he has a long way to go. I can’t tell you the exact numbers, but it’s not a sum you should be worrying about. Everything else is fine. He’s healthy. ?

Lilathea’s explanation put me in the middle of two emotions, worry and relief. Now I decided it was the cost, and moved on. At least he was alive.

"Wait, then–" I turned to my right to see if there were more beds, but there were none. Turning to Rue again: "Did you see a doctor-looking lady with glasses? Is she fine?"

She paused, then instantly recognized the first image that came to mind. "Oh yes. She was also helping out, I forgot her name, though. Was she attacked? She appeared fine."

I breathed out, another weight lifting off me. The way she’d screamed, and Seraphine had been forced to chase Mandrisska and the beetles while I was on the verge of death. I didn’t want to remember that again.

? You can thank me, you know! ?

"Thanks a lot." It seemed some reactions and pauses at certain times don’t give off the clue that you’re talking to the goddess of lust.

But yes, without Lilathea I wouldn’t be seeing this day right now. I took another look at Wendel, just glad he was safe.

Then I realized there were windows behind the beds with still curtains. Outside was thick with fog, completely white as well. Wait, was I in the research department’s room? Or was this another section?

It was the perfect time to talk with Rue.

"This place is magical. I’m sure it’s afternoon, so Madam Saelith and the others might be busy. But I’m sure–"

"Rue–" I interrupted. "What do you want to do in life?"

She blinked, pulled her head back straight, and a smile appeared on her face, blushing.

"Be with you, master. I will be your maid, of course, forever by your side. Since you saved me from the nightmares of the brothel."

I couldn’t swallow the air on my tongue, my fear obvious. She didn’t understand the depth of my question.

"No." I rubbed my eyes, a little too hard. "Listen, I know you see me buying you out as a favor, a debt. But I had my own selfish reasons to–"

"So what?" I was putting my neck on the line, for the best of it, and she decided to ask such a question, cutting me off. Her eyes were still scared, but facing me.

"Don’t you understand? I took advantage of you..." It hurt enough to make me pause.

"I see..." She looked down, wiping her tears a second after they came out. "You have no use for me now. So you want to get rid of me."

She burst into tears and wasn’t able to wipe them all. An arrow pierced my heart, delivering a love letter, but we often forget love can be a disease.

But I shouldn’t take advantage of her, or I’d be a burden rather than a blessing, which she said she thinks I am. I reject both. I’ll be a selfish bastard instead.

"Yes. That’s about right. It was nice sleeping with you. I just wanted a play toy."

As soon as I said that, Rue had had enough, and she slapped me. Could her hands do something like slapping? I didn’t think they could.

My face, in a new position after she’d made my cheek red, stayed there as I processed it.

"You don’t have to be the villain of my life. You are anything but that..." Her cries were replaced by heavy breaths, but there was a sense of strength in the air.

"You can’t fool me, Elias..."