102 – 44. Father(1)
Ian, who had been transferred to the infirmary, opened his eyes in the hospital room.
With too much information flooding in, his head throbbed with the desire to rest, but the desired respite was not there.
“…Nunui said it, but maybe you’re pushing yourself too hard.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s unavoidable since you met Satan, but…”
Eri, who was wrapping a bandage around Ian’s wrist, closed her eyes and suppressed her anger.
What she wanted to say was simple. Even if they fight, how about waiting for others and cooperating in the battle?
Of course, it’s not that she doesn’t understand why he rushed into the battle.
If it had been a little later, Cayenne would have become a corpse, and Satan would have recovered.
He knows. From Ian’s perspective, it was the best course of action…
However, as someone who values him dearly, it was by no means a good sight.
“I hope you consider your body a bit.”
At the very least, weren’t there people around who could help him?
Most of the personnel would have to handle the professors’ treatment and transportation, but…
As the Imperial Knights and Edenria had promised generous support, if they only requested, manpower would have been allocated to support the battle.
Ariel, who was, at the very least, a warrior, was also assigned to the search operation, so she could be called upon.
Leaving those individuals alone and rushing in without any support, coming back covered in wounds, it was inevitable that Ian’s heart as Eri would ache.
Of course, Ian had his say as well.
“Surely… if I had requested support, I could have fought alongside Satan. Even if it wasn’t a big help, I could have provided some support.”
Even though she wanted to refute, there was nothing wrong in her words, so Eri had to listen.
If others had drawn Satan’s attention, the battle would have been much easier. Above all, Celia wouldn’t have needed to throw herself into the attacks.
“Yeah… Celia!”
As she reminisced about the previous battle, the image of Celia, who had thrown her body to block the attacks, came to mind.
“Eri? What happened to Celia? She’s not dead, right?”
Although taken aback by Ian suddenly grabbing her arm, Eri calmed her surprised heart and gently laid Ian down on the bed.
“Don’t worry too much. She’s still alive.”
“She’s alive?”
“I heard that the treatment the squad leader provided was effective. Originally, her abdomen was pierced to the point where it wouldn’t be strange if she had died, but fortunately, her life was spared.”
The regeneration she had infused until just before collapsing had an effect. At that thought, Ian let out a breath he had been holding.
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There wasn’t enough divine power left to use the ability, but he had used it recklessly with the thought that he had to save her. It seemed to have contributed greatly to saving Celia.
“…She’s alive.”
Celia Wignoron was not dead yet. In that fact, Ian found relief.
If he hadn’t checked the memoirs, he might have ended it with ‘it’s a pity,’ ‘Ariel would be sad.’ But in the situation after knowing the truth, it wasn’t like that.
Thinking about what she had done… he couldn’t help but be grateful that she was alive.
Using the Seal of Stigma forcibly separated me, and it even bestowed attributes upon me….
How many opportunities has the Dark attribute created in Ian’s life?
From meeting Neltalion to obtaining Lebryon.
In the journey through all of that, the Dark attribute has had a significant impact.
“As of now, both Neltalion and Lebryon are indispensable to me.”
If these were absent, I would have failed again.
Perhaps I would have given up everything, gone mad, and become a ruined invalid claiming no prospects.
“Forgetting Celia, who prevented such a future, was not enough; I almost lost her.”
Even after recovering my memories, I couldn’t dare imagine what to do if she had already disappeared.
Maybe… the timeline twisted once again.
A figure to be kept alive, even in a life repeating like hell.
For Ian, Celia Vignoron is someone he naturally finds solace in for being that kind of person.
“I kept worrying that Major Lee and Ria might be in trouble…. Are you searching for that woman as soon as you wake up without even knowing?”
“If you took it that way… I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t say it to receive an apology. I just wanted you to know that we are also concerned.”
Ian raised the corners of his mouth at her subtly turned head.
“At least at a moment like this, it’s appropriate to apologize.”
Wouldn’t she have worried a lot?
Despite clearly promising not to overdo it before, he had swung his sword for 12 hours at the Devil’s Tower just a few days ago to save Ariel. And now, he had come back after settling the score with Satan alone.
Even the battles with the Demon Lords that had happened so far, Ian hadn’t tried to resolve them alone.
Ian may not be at the level comparable to Erina, but it’s not like he can’t do anything. It was only natural that he felt a burning frustration, unable to offer even a slight help.
“Now that I think about it… I’m not sure if I view Erena Lya as Ariel.”
He tried to thoroughly exclude the risk factor, considering that Erina was nothing less than a formidable weapon that could kill Lucifer.
While it’s inevitable to be overprotective of a warrior like Ariel, they were not the same.
“If they are not even Ariel, why can’t they fight together? There might be dissatisfaction when thinking about it.”
It could be thought that they were trying to prevent Ian from stepping forward because they were useless.
But the reason Ian did not give them the opportunity to shine… it was because they were too precious.
It would be more fitting to say that he didn’t want to lose them. After everything is over and a stable world comes, he wanted to envision the future with them and make sure they don’t face any danger.
“… Maybe it was my stubbornness.”
But… it won’t be possible anymore.
Because he keenly felt it while fighting Satan.
If Cyan hadn’t survived Phase 1 by risking his life. If Celia’s support hadn’t been there. He might be the one getting killed by Satan.
While facing the threat to life in the battle against Satan, Lucifer, who remained, was much stronger than that guy.
According to Velfegor’s plan, the demon would soon die, and the authority would also pass into Lucifer’s hands.
“If that happens… I have no choice but to reach out to Erina Lya, even if I don’t want to. No. It will be the same for others as well.”
Until now, it was a solo fight, but the fight against Lucifer would require everyone’s strength.
“If I deal with that guy only… I can finally end this damn regression.”
Thinking about the future after the bloody battle, Ian took Erina’s hand.
At that moment, there was no need for words between them.
Swoosh.
The warmth felt in Ian’s hand clasped with Erina’s only brought a faint smile to her lips.
***
‘I never knew there would be such a secret between us.’
Ian, who had completely erased the remaining scars through rapid regeneration, headed towards Celia’s hospital room.
The priests who had been treating her just conveyed to Ian, showing their respect, that Celia’s condition had been critical.
‘They said if it weren’t for the healing water Glenidia provided, she would have lost her life due to severe abdominal bleeding.’
What is this healing water? Could it be a therapeutic potion other than the legendary elixir known?
Despite using rapid regeneration and healing water, she was still wandering in a coma, indicating that the wounds she suffered were significant.
‘So that’s why she hasn’t been able to open her eyes until now.’
Although he had been using rapid regeneration since entering the hospital room, there was no sign of her opening her eyes.
Her body had recovered, but her consciousness had not fully returned, so Ian stopped using rapid regeneration and held Celia’s hand.
‘I should have known this would happen… I should have refused to accept the necklace.’
If there had been a memorial link to Celia… would things have turned out differently?
Even though there was a 10% chance that it might not explode… still, wasn’t it better to hope for a slight possibility?
When he mentioned giving a gift, maybe refusing would have been the right choice.
In hindsight, now that he had learned about the past through the memoirs, such thoughts continued to surface.
‘No… I can’t regret what has already happened.’
After contemplating for a while, Ian eventually tilted his head.
What’s the use of thinking about things that can’t be changed? It’s not like he’s going to regress again.
At this moment, Celia is not dead. That’s all he needed to focus on.
‘Back then, I said it. It probably didn’t mean that this necklace would protect me from now on… Anyway, I did get some help.’
It was the moment when Celia took out the necklace and let out a bitter laugh.
‘Huh? Why is there light…’
The moment an unknown light emanated from the insignificant necklace.
Why did something like this suddenly happen?
It was a moment of carefully examining the necklace, just in case, with the thought that maybe…
[You can activate Ian’s memorial link using the Christmas Rose necklace! Would you like to use it?]
‘My memorial link?’
The moment an unexpected event occurred.
Activate the memorial link? Does that mean Ian shared memories and items with Celia?
‘What’s that…’
Thoughts that seemed to make sense started to emerge. At the same time, the judgment began to settle that it was quite possible.
According to the information obtained from the memoirs, Celia must have been an important person to Ian.
As the memorial link is an event triggered by items containing precious memories, it wasn’t an impossible story if the necklace held memories with her.
‘I’ll use it.’
[Activating Ian Volkano’s memorial link. Acquired special skill ‘Connection with the Past.’ Removes all debuff effects on the important person ‘Celia Wignoran’ and recalls memories from the specified chapter.]
“Huh….”
Reading the description that popped up as it activated, Ian, with an expression of disbelief, bit his tongue.
‘Removing debuffs means… likely removing the effects of the stamp stone that Celia used. According to the memoirs, she used it for Ariel in her childhood.’
Recalling memories from the specified chapter means…
‘Then…. So, is the memory of using the stamp stone at that moment overlaid on the current Celia?’
In my heart, I wanted to wake her up right away and check. But since there was no sign of her waking up, I couldn’t confirm.
However, there was one thing that was certain.
‘If what I think is correct…. There’s even more reason to defeat Lucifer.’
I must prevent myself from failing and regressing like before.
For that, I had a reason to prepare more thoroughly.
‘The first thing I need to do is make Ariel able to withstand the battle against him.’
Since there was no time, training was impossible. But that’s okay. Training is not the only way to help my younger sister grow.
Ian checked the device with a calm expression.
[This is Shulkin’s work. Lady Celia has awakened. If you finish your work, please come to the family as soon as possible.]
‘Time to plunder the items inside the family report has come.’