Chapter 39: Curses and Consequences

A Notebook Tantrum

Orphe looked baffled.

Fair enough—who wouldn’t be, dragged to a shady corner by someone radiating anger, only to hear “StupidIdiot(etc.)”?

Still, that was the harshest curse the restriction allowed.

Anything stronger wouldn’t come out, even if written.

Show it to someone, and perception interference kicks in, making it read as a filtered version.

I tested it with Fifirel a few days into quarantine.

“Hey, Fifirel, what’s this say?”

“Hm, puppy? Isidora, you like dogs?”

I’d shown her “bastard,” and that’s what she saw.

Written insults were blocked entirely.

After a week of experiments, the restriction’s limit was preschool-level swears.

I flipped the notebook’s pages roughly.

Scribbled a new insult with venom and shouted again.

“Idiot! Dummy!”

“Mind explaining why you’re mad?”

Good point, kid.

I poured my feelings into the pen, writing furiously.

“Why don’t you… listen… to me…!”

Scribble scribble

“Just… leave me… alone…!”

Ugh, my arm hurts.

This method’s great, but writing everything takes forever since I can’t speak without it.

“I told you…!”

“…Why the informal tone?”

His response threw me off completely.

This guy.

He’s been casual from the start, and now he’s calling me out?

[Child, calm down.]

Hunt God, do I look calm?

I’m older than him!

Sure, counting my past life, he’s got more years, but in Korean age, I’m older!

I scribbled frantically.

“I’m… older… than you…!”

“Aren’t you twenty?”

…Yeah, my setting’s twenty.

Got so mad I forgot.

“…Right…”

Wait, I could’ve just said that.

Anger’s clouding my brain.

“Same age, so what’s the deal?”

Ugh, come on.

Can’t exactly whip out my ID.

Caught up in the heat, I got played by Orphe’s pace.

How to escape this?

Head-on.

“You… started… the informal talk…!”

“Now that you mention it, true. Do what you want, then.”

Feels like I lost something here.

Orphe kept outmaneuvering me, but that wasn’t the point.

I returned to the main issue.

My arm ached, but I couldn’t stop.

“Winning… matters less… than me getting hurt…”

Goddamn, this is annoying.

I slammed the notebook shut and spoke.

“Why’d you protect me during training?”
‘Why do you keep making me seem helpless?’

“Does protecting the injured need a reason?”

Fair, but still.

“Training’s supposed to be taken seriously—”
‘So you just throw it?’

“Still got that nosebleed?”

“…!”

No way, right?

I wiped my nose, but nothing was there.

“Kidding.”

Orphe grinned.

…This jerk, laughing now?

My rage couldn’t erupt.

Orphe suddenly stepped forward.

His massive frame blocked the window’s light, casting a shadow over me.

He looked down and spoke.

“But I meant what I said earlier. You looked like you’d break with a nudge back there.”

“…It wasn’t that bad.”
‘If only I could talk properly.’

Stubborn idiot.

No matter what I say, he’ll just go, “Hm, really?” and brush it off.

‘Fine, I’m the adult here.’

I reached out, grabbing the side of his shirt.

Our height difference forced me to raise my arm slightly.

“Turn around.”
‘Turn.’

“What for?”

“Just do it. Don’t you want lunch?”
‘Hurry up so we can eat.’

Orphe turned obediently.

His broad back faced me.

“Sit down.”
‘Sit!’

He sat immediately.

…Is this what owning a big dog feels like?

Lost in stray thoughts, I grabbed the hem of his shirt and lifted it.

But seeing his back erased those thoughts instantly.

“….”

Orphe’s back was a map of gruesome scars.

Countless marks etched deep, too many to tally.

And a massive bruise overlaying them.

I was speechless.

“Still not done?”

“Orphe, these scars…”
‘What are these?’

“Oh, those?”

He spoke casually.

“After knight training, before the academy, I had about two years.”

But his words were anything but light.

“I traveled the kingdom, hunting beasts. Alone, or sometimes with help.”

“Why not take it easy? No one forced you…”
‘This wasn’t in the novel.’

“Didn’t have much time.”

His voice carried a bitter edge.

Probably recalling his first life.

In his second life, he had to push himself this hard.

If the God of Dreams hadn’t erased the demon-inflicted scars, there’d be even more.

I focused divine power into my hands.

“Healing Blessing.”
‘Healing Blessing.’

A light several times brighter than when I healed the students burst from my fingertips.

Even Orphe, sitting with his back to me, spoke up.

“Saintess, what are you—”

“Stay still.”
‘Shh.’

I placed both hands on his broad back.

He flinched slightly but settled.

Divine power spread through my touch, weaving across his back in radiant threads.

[Child, using more divine power might not be wise.]

I ignored the God of Hunting and poured more in.

The bruise on his back faded slowly.

Feeling it, Orphe said in wonder,

“The bruise is gone? No wonder the afflicted seek clerics.”

“…Though flawed, answering the divine call grants such power—a true blessing.”
‘You think any cleric can do this?’

The bruise vanished.

But I didn’t stop the Healing Blessing.

[Child, this could harm you.]

Be quiet.

Just this one thing.

The divine power seeped into the scars.

New flesh slowly erased the marks.

Orphe twitched, ticklish.

I lightly smacked his back with my left hand.

Slap!

“Ouch.”

“I said stay still.”
‘Stop squirming.’

He shrugged.

Watching the scars fade felt oddly satisfying.

Like cleaning a long-neglected house?

The sight was strangely calming, even exciting.

[Child, it’s time to go.]

The divine power in me vanished.

“Huh?”
‘What?’

My body slumped forward.

Trying to stand, my arm brushed Orphe’s shoulder.

Unintentionally, I ended up embracing him from behind.

Orphe sounded flustered.

“…This is awkward.”

My head neared his neck, his scent hitting me.

After running all morning, his musky smell clouded my mind.

“Uh, no, I mean—”
‘What’s happening?’

[The God of Hunting says this is why they kept warning you during Descent.]

What do you mean?

Doesn’t Divine Descent end automatically?

[The God of Hunting says normally yes, but using blessings or powers continuously can drain even your innate divine power.]

So I used up all my divine power with Healing Blessing?

[The God of Hunting says exactly.]

You could’ve said so earlier… though they did warn me multiple times.

No choice but to rely on Orphe.

“Orphe… I used too much Healing Blessing and lost my strength.”
‘Mana burnout.’

“I see.”

He started to stand but stopped, realizing I was draped over him.

Instead, he turned his head and whispered in my ear.

“Excuse me.”

“Eek… kyaa?!”

He hoisted me onto his back, hands supporting my thighs.

Wearing a short skirt for morning class, I felt his touch on my bare skin.

[The God of Beauty cheers your current state.]

Shut up.

At least we’re alone, so it’s fine.

If this happened in public, I’d die of embarrassment.

Especially if Erdike saw…

Ugh, let’s not think about it.

“Uh, sorry, but…”
‘I’m mortified.’

“Don’t worry. I’ll get you there quick.”

At least he’s not totally clueless.

He strode out of the shed toward the infirmary.

A Public Humiliation

…Or so I wished.

“Oh my!”

“Isidora, what happened?!”

This lunatic’s destination was the cafeteria.

Yep, countless students saw me piggybacked by Orphe.

Among them were a shocked Fifirel, Patricia, Monica.

And Erdike, glaring like she’d kill me.

Oblivious to their stares, Orphe turned to me calmly.

“I heard eating restores divine power. I’ll grab food, so sit and wait.”

He plopped me down among our heroines and sauntered off.

“Good heavens…”

“Isidora, what were you doing?!”

“Riding a man’s back, so shameless…”

They each threw in a comment.

Erdike alone stayed silent.

Crunch, grind, snap…

Some things don’t need words to be understood.