Chapter 107 (1/2)

Chapter 107

(Cynthia’s POV)

【”That hurt… You got something against my foot now, Harold?”]

【”I have something against you saying unnecessary things.”]

Harold and Cody’s exchange dissolved all the accumulated tension.

Though there was a big age gap between them, they looked like two old friends in Cynthia’s eyes. This wasn’t surprising to her. Cody had come many times to visit after her husband was suddenly bedridden, so she knew his bright and straightforward personality. She felt like he’d be able to become friends with almost anyone.

On the other hand, Harold was as unfriendly as Cody had said. With his harsh and excessively frank manner of speech, it was easy to guess he was the type to make many enemies.

But while his words were sharp like knives, for some reason they had struck and moved Cynthia’s heart much more than any encouragement she received in the past.

Deep down, maybe she had given up. Her husband had been ill for five years, there were no clear hopes of recovery for him and Cynthia’s income was decreasing, which made it impossible to get a doctor to see Finnegan.

Somewhere in her heart, without realizing it, she may have been thinking that she no longer hand the strength to face this crisis and that the situation just could not be helped.

But it seemed like this young man, despite his age, had seen straight through her resignation.

Because he understood what she had been thinking, he made her choose. Was she going to lose and escape from the painful and cold reality or was she going to fight it through her own will?

He gave her those options for her own sake.

So that she would be stronger as a wife, and a mother.

(His words… They were self-centered and harsh… but they were kind.)

Considering the circumstances, there was no need for a noble like Harold to give Cynthia any options or to even acknowledge her. If he had something to gain from curing Finnegan, then he did not have to discuss anything with her. Whether he succeeded or not, a commoner like Cynthia had no right to complain.

Harold told her that her only option was to choose, but given her position, even that option was more of a favor than a right. He could just as well have started the treatment on Finnegan straight away like he initially intended.

However, he did not like the idea of submissively obeying the powerful. Even though he himself was powerful.

Seeing that Cynthia was faced with a situation that she could do nothing about, he had stretched his hand to her.

But once she grabbed that hand and stood up, he wanted her to start walking forward through her own power.

That was what Harold’s words and actions showed from Cynthia’s perspective.

She had been moved like never before. He had been tough in his approach, but this noble had done everything he could to encourage a commoner like herself. It would be strange if she wasn’t feeling that way.

Ultimately, she realized one thing. This young man called Harold Stokes was a noble in the true sense of the word.

【”Well, I guess it’s fine. Anyway, we should hurry and get started.”]

【”R-right now?”]

【”I know it’s sudden but Harold is pretty busy.”]

【”And yet you dragged me all the way here.”] Complained Harold, before standing up from his seat.

As Cynthia followed him with her eyes, Harold looked straight back at her before asking her a question.

【”Let me confirm this one last time. The cure I’m about to use is not guaranteed to succeed. It can make him recover but it can also be completely ineffective, and I can’t exclude the possibility that it will add unexpected complications to his condition. Knowing that, you still want me to do it?”]

【”…Yes. I will leave my husband in your care.”]

【”…I see.”]

Harold started walking immediately, like he was saying there was no need to say anything further.

He had probably already checked where Finnegan was staying seeing as he headed straight towards there.

Looking inside the room after lighting up the candles, Finegan seemed to be asleep, with his eyes tightly closed.

Harold stood in front of him and put his hand on his sword’s handle.

【”…What are you doing?”]

However, before Harold could draw out his sword, Cody grabbed his hand and stopped him.

【”That’s my line. I can’t let you go that far, alright?”]

The two men silently looked at each other. Cynthia did not understand what was going, but she figured there were some circumstances she did not know about.

After a few seconds passed, Cody was the first one to speak.

【”Knowing you, you’ve probably been thinking this whole time that you have to take care of this on your own. Am I wrong?”]

【”……”]

【”But I can’t let you do this part. I’m the one who asked you to come here, so let me take responsibility.”]

【”…Suit yourself.”]

Harold gave in. He passed his still sheathed sword to Cody.

Cody received it and pulled the sword out.

【”E-excuse me… What do you intend to do with that?”]

【”It’s a bit hard to explain, but Harold’s sword has a special power. We might be able to cure Finnegan with it.”]

A special power? They were going to use a sword as a cure?

(He’s not going to cut him with it, right? No way.) Cynthia could not imagine how one would use a sword to cure someone. Without paying attention to her, Cody opened and closed his eyes twice, then thrice, while taking deep breaths.

Then, the sword’s crystal started shining. At first, in only showed a dim light, but it rapidly became brighter and brighter.

Cynthia silently watched the process, until Cody started groaning in pain.

【”Ugh…!”]

He was having trouble breathing and there were beads of sweat on his forehead. The crystal’s light repeatedly blinked and gradually weakened. Before long, it disappeared.

All of this took only a few minutes, but by the time the light went out, Cody had fallen on one knee, sword still in hand.

【”Ahh… This is exhausting…”]

【”A-are you alright?”]

【”Yeah, I’m fine.”]

【”What happened there? You did not seem fine at all.”]

【”No no, there is…”]

“nothing to worry about” was what Cody wanted to say as he stood up. However, that did not happen, for when he tried to stand up, the sword fell from his hand.

The metallic sound of the steel blade clattering against the ground echoed within the room.

【”Give it up. It’s impossible for you. “]

【”…You could have clarified that earlier, man. I didn’t think it was this intense.”]

Cody spoke with a self-deprecating smile. Guessing from the exchange he had with Harold earlier, he was probably feeling down because this was his role and he failed to uphold it.

Nevertheless, he still reached his hand to the sword a second time, but Harold picked it up before him.

Once he picked it up, Harold looked at the sword fixedly, seemingly lost in his thoughts. This lasted for a little while.

【”Oh, so that’s what happened.”]

After muttering so, Harold turned to Cody and mercilessly explained what was the matter.

【”You can’t handle this sword. “]

【”You’re not gonna tell me it chooses its wielder, are you?”]

【”Anyone can wield it, just like any other sword. However, you don’t have enough mana to use its functions.”]

【”If your mana is the reference to follow here, then you’re more or less the only one who can use it, Harold…”]

Looking dejected, Cody sat back down on his chair. He seemed completely worn-out.

Cynthia knew that Cody was one of the most powerful people of the saint knight order.

If someone like him was exhausted just from trying to use the sword, that meant it most likely put a considerable burden on its wielder.

So how come Harold could hold it so nonchalantly? What did this say about him?

【”That’s how it is. So how about you be quiet while I show you how it’s done.”]

【”Alright, I get it, I get it. Haaaah… It’s been a long time since I last felt that much pity for myself.”]

【”That’s surprising. And here I thought your whole life was pitiful.”]

【”Too bad I’m way too thick skinned to mind it. You know me, I’ve no idea what shame is.”]

Although Cody was joking around, his face showed he really was bitter.

Cynthia was glad to see he felt so sincerely implicated in helping Finnegan. Although he had failed to wield the sword, she was just happy to know there was still someone who had not given up on her husband.

Even so, he had showed nothing but enthusiasm until now, so Cynthia could not help herself from thinking that maybe there was some other reason he was suddenly feeling down. She did not have suspicions about him, but she was troubled by his earlier use of the word ‘responsibility’.

She started wondering if their attempt to help Finnegan was somehow risky for them.

【”Then use that thick skin of yours to switch back to your usual careless self. Can’t be any worse than having him wake up to your bitter face after 5 years of slumber.”]

【”Alright alright, I’ll be as self-confident as ever.”]

【”Same goes for you, Cynthia. Is that supposed to be the face of a wife awaiting her husband’s return? I have no need for you to believe in me, but you could at least believe in Finnegan.”]

Harold’s words shook off Cody’s bitterness and Cynthia’s insecurity like they were never there.

(My, no matter how tough he shows himself to be, he is really kind.)

His words and his dependable back were enough to give anyone the courage to face adversity. As she thought so, Cynthia spontaneously smiled.