A Short Break

Chapter 58 A Short Break

'SIGH'

I sit on the park bench with a long exhale.

Even though I am stretching my body for a moment, the sore feeling in my muscle still there.

The soreness is definitely because of the effect of Venharice's trial and Honour of Conquest Miracle training.

I know it is almost twenty hours in my world, but it's three more years in the Clock Tower of Amdarais, so it feels like a long way for training.

I almost stumbled when I arrived home yesterday because this damn soreness spread in all my muscles, forcing me to quickly sleep on the bed.

Indeed, my sisters got relieved after returning home since I rarely spent almost one day doing 'online food delivery.'

This Saturday, I am taking my sisters for playing to the park near our home.

Previously, I promised to play with them this weekend, but with this damn soreness, I chose to pick a nearby place from home so I could rest for a moment.

I sit back on the bench and look at the clear sky above, enjoying the breezing of the soft wind that relaxes my mind and muscle.

"Do you want a drink, Rezvan?"

Fenris sits next to me and shows a bottle of cold coke and sweet tea in her hand.

I'm mesmerized while looking at Fenris with her gentle smile and beautiful, tied hair that makes her look more elegant.

Of course, I quickly diverted my stare before she realized it.

"Emm… a cold coke is good if you do not mind."

I said it while looking at the coke.

"Sure, here."

Fenris give it to me.

I opened the can and took a gulp of this refreshing and icy coke.

Well, I never thought Fenris would come along to accompany my sisters and me in here.

Before I decided to go to the park near my home with my sisters, Fenris called me to play together with my sisters since she had fully recovered.

My sisters eventually welcomed it happily.

Of course, Fenris did not complain if we only went to the park as long as she could meet my sisters and me.

Fortunately, I had already prepared four meal boxes, and Fenris prepared drinks for us, so we didn't have to think a lot about how we eat later.

"Thanks, Fenris."

I said after long contemplation.

Fenris smiled while he stared at Serena and Citra playing together on the slide in the park.

"You can rest for a while, Fenris. They're both pretty energetic when it comes to playing, even play kids slide like that."

I suggested it.

Fenris giggles and hears that.

"Thanks for the time, Rezvan. This is the moment I am waiting for right after I'm out from the hospital."

She chuckled.

"…but I was surprised when I looked your left eye closed by eye-patch, Rezvan. What happened?"

She asked me with a worried face.

"I fell when I'm on delivering food. In short, my left eye was injured, so I need this eye patch to close it for a moment until it fully recovered."

I answered clearly since I had prepared my fantasy story for anyone who asked about this eye patch.

"Oh my… it's not severe, right? So what the doctor said about it?"

"No worries. The doctor said it was fine, and I still can see. It is just temporary until it fully recovers. No surgery needed."

"Thank God. I hope everything's fine. Don't hesitate to ask if you need my help for a check-up at the hospital, Rezvan. I will do that for you."

"Thanks for your concern, but don't worry too much about it, Fenris. I can handle this."

I shrug it off since it would be awkward to open this eye patch and show her the Ice Curse Spell on my left eye.

"How's your condition? Is there any injury left?"

I quickly asked Fenris to change the topic.

"I'm perfectly fine, Rezvan. I'm even ready for the next raid."

"That's good. Hope you're doing well, then."

"Ah, I almost forgot; my mom sends her regards for you, Serena, and Citra."

"Oh, right. Wait, your mom? Your mom knows you playing with us right now?"

Fenris nodded.

Hopefully, his father, not knowing it since he's a sharp investigator among Knight Associations, I whispered inside my heart.

"My father also knows, but don't worry about it. I'm not interested in asking you about the Mysterious Hero on Fortress Dungeon since my father is curious about it."

"Oh…. okay."

It seems Abimanyu still tries to find a clue from me, even though I'm already evaded it.

I might not know well enough about Abimanyu Jumantara, the S-rank Knight in my country that is a powerful Tanker Knight.

However, from his way of asking questions, it would be fatal if I gave a wrong answer for once since he had a sharp mind for reading enemies' true intentions.

Just like Fenris, to be honest.

"Hmm? What's wrong, Rezvan?"

Fenris suddenly asked me because I stared at her without words.

"O-oh…. N-no…! I mean… emmm… your tied-up hair looks cute on you… ! "

I answered it without too much thought.

I even don't understand why I said that.

"Really? Hihihi… I rarely do this…."

Fenris suddenly blushed.

Afterward, Fenris and I become silent.

A long and awkward silence, to be exact.

I don't know how to throw another topic, and Fenris' face still looks away from me without any words.

"I want to apologize for interrupting you when I visit you in the hospital, Fenris. I never thought your father and mother were there at that moment."

I said it for opening topics after a few minutes passed with awkward silence.

"N-no, it's okay. It is me who wants to apologize, Rezvan. My father is… too harsh on you even though you save me in the raid. He even said many rude things to you because of your Knight Ranks. I'm really sorry…."

Fenris replied with regretful tones.

"Well, your father is an S-Rank Knight, so it is obvious for him to look down on me, the Weakest Knight, right?"

"Rezvan, please don't say that! I really dislike the conversation about bringing Knight Rank! Even I'm angry toward my father because of that arrogance!"

I can feel Fenris is being genuine in her words.

It was rare for me to see a woman think like this since I see my mother only doing what benefits herself, even if it means leaving her family and belittling my dad.

Regardless, it's reasonable for Abimanyu to be suspicious of me since it's a father's responsibility to watch his daughter over bad guys.

Am I the bad guy, though?

As a Magician, probably yes.

"Emm… I'm sorry. It might be a wrong word, but I mean… it's reasonable for a father to have skepticism about a strange guy, right?"

I try to calm Fenris.

"But it's exaggerating for me, Rezvan. It's even unfair! He always introduces me to many A-Rank Knights for me, as he wants me to marry one of those. I hate it!"

Fenris folded her hand, annoyed by his father's behavior.

"Whoa, that's unexpected. But those A-rank Knights must be handsome and rich guys, right? That's what I know from the news. A lot of A-Rank Knights had high-rate income, well known among famous people, had a lot of nice houses and cars, and-"

"I don't care about them! They do not even care about me because they want to become close to my father! They want to keep in the Raid Team with my father for their own gain! It's irritating as hell!"

"O-okay…. I get it… please calm down, Fenris. I'm not intended to make you angrier than this."

Fenris grunted, forcing herself to keep her mouth shut since she repeatedly tried to calm her down.

It was my first time seeing Fenris cranky like this.

Because of that, I quickly open the sweet tea bottle for her.

"In case you thirsty, Fenris."

I offered it with a nervous smile.

Fenris took and gulped half of it without words, then had a long exhale.

"Sorry… it's just annoyed me every time I remember that."

Fenris said it after a long silence in anger.

Hearing Fenris' story, it's not a secret among Knights that A-rank Knights try to have a connection to the S-Rank Knights so they can secure the raid team with them for two reasons.

First, they want safe hunting because they know an S-Rank Knight is dependable in the raid.

Second, they want to secure their position and wealth because when a Knight has an A-Rank position, their income from Monster Diamond is significantly higher than any other Knight ranked below them.

It must be hard for Fenris to look 'greedy' A-rank Knight who tries to impress his father for their own security.

"So… is this why you become a Knight, Fenris?"

I asked in the middle of our silence.

Fenris suddenly stares at me intensely.

"What do you mean, Rezvan?"

She asked it to conform with a serious tone.

"You're a B-rank Knight who was soon chosen to be an A-Rank Knight candidate, right? So I guess you want to prove to your father that you can be an A-rank Knight for helping your father rather than relying on another A-rank Knight that you can't trust."

Fenris opened her mouth, but strangely enough, there was no word.

She immediately looks away from me when I see her eyes glazed over.

Am I saying something wrong?

Is she mad at me?

Oh, well, I already said it.

I should apologize, even though I still do not understand the reason.

"…yes."

Fenris said it after a long pause faintly.

"Sorry, I just…."

She wipes her tears for a moment.

I'm not expecting her to become emotional like this.

"Oh… it's embarrassing, isn't it? You understand what I had struggled with all this time as a Knight, Rezvan."

She still sobbed.

I quickly took a tissue next to me and gave it to her.

"It's not embarrassing, Fenris. On the contrary, it's a noble act for you to be strong for your family.

I cheer her up until she returns to smile faintly.

"Yes… probably this is one reason I like to play with you and your sister, Rezvan. It always reminds my reason for keeping struggle as a Knight."

Fenris exhaled in gratitude.

It's nice to see her become relieved now.

"For me, I'm just happy I can find someone who loves spending time with my sisters."

I thanked Fenris.

"That's why I need success on this special mission, Rezvan. It's necessary, so I can become the A-Rank Knight."

Fenris's tone suddenly becomes serious.

"Another Raid Missions? Or arresting other Astray Knights, perhaps?"

I'm guessing.

"No, it's a special mission led by my father. The main objective is to find the Mysterious Hero."

I went speechless when I heard Fenris' answer.

Even her sharp stare feels like locking on my soul entirely.

Oh man, I hope she's not discovered my identity as a Magician.