Chapter 186: Finally, We Made Contact
Rest and Yuri stepped out of the building that had become the Barrier Techniques classroom.
“Alright, Rest. I’m going to run now!”
“Oh, you’re really going to run, huh?”
“Yeah, that’s what I was told to do!”
Yuri began to stomp her feet in place, her enthusiasm almost comical. She was earnest, perhaps a bit too serious, to the point where one might call her foolish.
“Whoa!”
“Ah…!”
Just as Yuri was about to take off, she suddenly halted. It seemed she was about to collide with someone emerging from the shadows of the building. She managed to stop just in time, avoiding a direct hit, but the other person ended up sitting on the ground.
“I’m so sorry! Are you alright?!”
“Hey, Yuri! What are you doing… huh?”
Rest rushed over, blinking in surprise. He recognized the girl who had fallen.
“…It hurts.”
“You’re from the Lavender Barony, aren’t you…?”
The girl sitting on the ground was Ula Lavender, the representative daughter of the Lavender Barony. Rest had seen her several times in this development village and had even crossed paths with her during meetings, but he never expected to encounter her here.
“I’m so sorry… Are you okay?”
“I don’t think I’m injured, but… can you stand?”
While Yuri was flustered, Rest extended his hand to help Ula up. He intended to assist her and possibly use healing magic if necessary, but for some reason, Ula remained frozen in place.
“…!”
“Uh… oh?”
From behind her curtain-like purple bangs, Rest felt a piercing gaze directed at him. Why was she looking at him so intensely? This was practically their first meeting; they only knew each other’s names and faces.
“…Yes.”
“Excuse me?”
“My nose is bleeding…”
“Whoa!”
As declared, in the next moment, Ula suddenly erupted with bright red blood from her nose.
“Wait, why are you sitting down and bleeding from your nose?!”
Rest shouted in a panic. It didn’t look like she had hit her face, but perhaps she had collided with Yuri at an angle he couldn’t see. Blood dripped from Ula’s nose onto her skirt, creating a spreading stain.
“M-M-Medic!”
Meanwhile, seeing the blood sent Yuri into a frenzy.
“This is bad… It’s my fault… Is there anyone who can use healing magic?!”
“No, I can do it, so calm down!”
Rest crouched beside Ula and placed a hand on her head.
“【Healing (Heal)】”
A soft light enveloped Ula’s head, and the bleeding stopped. She didn’t appear to have sustained any serious injury, but Rest pressed a water-soaked handkerchief against her face.
“For now, this should be fine, but if you still feel pain, please consult a healer. I can cover the treatment costs if necessary.”
“I’m so sorry… Truly sorry…”
“Ugh…”
Yuri sat down on the ground, looking like a scolded puppy.
“No, it’s my fault. Rather… it’s a reward.”
“Excuse me?”
“Thank you…”
Ula bowed her head in gratitude, not only to Rest but inexplicably to Yuri as well. Why was she thanking Yuri, who had bumped into her?
“Um… you are…”
“I’m Ula.”
“Ah, yes, the daughter of Baron Lavender…”
“I’m Ula.”
“Ah, yes. I know. Ula Lavender…”
“I’m Ula.”
“…”
What was this? Her repetitive responses were reminiscent of an NPC in an RPG. Rest felt a strange pressure from the petite purple-haired girl but decided to comply with her request for now.
“Lady Ula.”
“…Hah.”
“Wait! You’re bleeding again?!”
Ula had once more erupted with blood from her nose. Rest hurriedly cast a higher-level healing spell this time.
“Are you alright? Really… you should see a healer…”
“I’ll go get one! Just wait here!”
Yuri dashed off at full speed. In a development village where monster subjugation was common, healers and priests were always on standby. With her speed, she would surely bring back a specialist quickly.
“I’m more worried about her running into someone else and causing more injuries…”
“…I’m fine. No injuries.”
Ula tugged at Rest’s sleeve, pulling him closer.
“It’s a reward.”
“A reward? Um, is that some slang from the east or something?”
“No.”
Ula gazed intently at Rest again. It felt more like she was observing him rather than glaring. There was no discomfort, but an odd sense of unease lingered.
“For now, let’s move somewhere we can rest.”
“Please.”
“Yes, right away…”
“Please, there’s something…”
“Excuse me?”
Ula tugged at his sleeve again, insisting on something.
“Monsters. I want you to defeat them… on the eastern side.”
“…?”
Rest furrowed his brow at Ula’s words. They were brief, fragmented pieces of information, but could it be that a powerful monster had appeared in the eastern region where the Lavender Barony was leading the development? Ula nodded in response to Rest’s speculation.
“A dragon has appeared.”
“…”
Rest was left speechless by Ula’s statement. It seemed that the situation was more serious than he had anticipated. He might need to report this to Andrew.
“For now… let’s hear the details…”
Rest sighed, feeling a mysterious sense of fatigue wash over him as he prepared to listen to Ula’s account.