Unrequited Love, Lost for the Better - Chapter 28

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※ This work contains depictions of coercive relationships, explicit language, and other graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.

At the commander’s order, the team members paired up in unison. But the mist thickened in an instant, covering them before the formation was complete.

The insect-wing sound faded. A heavy silence followed. They couldn’t see even a step ahead. Collette gripped Valerian’s arm tightly.

Just as her palms grew clammy—

“Aaaah…!”

A scream faded into the distance. Someone had been dragged away by the Shadow Puppeteer. In an instant, the mist became a scene of chaos.

“It’s the Shadow Puppeteer!”

“Hold formation!”

“We can’t see through the mist!”

“Hold tight! Don’t let go—aaah!”

Shouts and screams filled the air. Small explosions and flashes of light erupted from all directions.

Thwack!

Valerian drew his sword and, with pure physical force, pierced something that had reached his ankle. Collette’s green eyes darted toward whatever was wetting the ground at her feet.

“Don’t look.”

At his words, she squeezed her eyes shut and bit her lower lip.

If casualties kept happening in this strange mist where they couldn’t see even an inch ahead…

We’ll all die.

The current visibility wasn’t dark, nor was it bright. This strange mist blurred their vision, making them unable to block or dodge the beast’s attacks.

Then… I need to clear this mist first.

Collette pulled out her staff. Reciting a moisture-absorbing spell under her breath, she raised her arm. The pale mist began to gather toward the tip of her staff.

“Collette?”

Valerian shot her a questioning look, but Collette focused on her staff. As the mist swirled and formed into a round mass, her arm trembled. But she couldn’t lower it, not even for a moment.

Seeing her tremble and strain, Valerian understood her intent. As the thick mist gradually thinned, the Shadow Puppeteers, sensing the change, rushed toward Collette.

“Tch…!”

Valerian pulled Collette, who was raising her staff, close with one arm and swung his sword. A sound of something hard breaking followed. Collette, drenched in sweat in an instant, flinched but kept her gaze fixed on the tip of her staff.

Don’t look. I mustn’t look. The moment I turn my eyes, the spell will tangle and break.

Collette held on, trembling, for several seconds. The mist cleared enough to be visible to the naked eye. Even the mages who had been fighting instead of being dragged away realized that someone was artificially clearing the mist.

“…Over there! That young lady researcher is clearing the mist!”

“Help the Commander!”

Realizing the situation, the mages swung their staffs to assist Collette in gathering the mist. Flames and light burst from all directions, shouts and curses filling the air.

Soon most of the mist had gathered into a small sphere at the tip of Collette’s staff. All that remained was to seal this condensed mass in another space.

Quickly pulling out a glass bottle from her pocket, Collette opened it with her teeth. Just as the gathered mist was sucked into the bottle—

Splat!

“…Ugh.”

Something black splattered onto the back of her hand. Acidic monster blood. Nearly dropping the bottle, Collette bit the inside of her cheek. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth, but she endured. If she let go now, everything would be for nothing.

Barely sealing the bottle, Collette staggered, drenched in sweat.

“……! Collette!”

Valerian pulled her close with one arm. Then, noticing the black monster blood splattered across his dark blue uniform, he hastily pushed her away. He couldn’t touch her with hands stained by such foul, poisonous blood.

Collette, who had naturally leaned toward him, nearly fell when the firm arm holding her suddenly disappeared.

…Did he just push me away?

Wondering if she smelled of sweat, Collette wrinkled her nose. She had assumed Valerian would hold her as always, regardless of her condition. A complacent thought.

Meanwhile, Valerian was busy wiping the black blood from his clothes. Even his specially treated combat uniform was stubbornly stained by the viscous black blood.

“Tch…….”

His leather gloves were also filthy, covered in the monster’s black blood. Clicking his tongue, Valerian pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the blood from his gloves. It was a gift from Collette some time ago—something he had kept pristine.

I’ll have to wash it as soon as we return.

Folding the bloodstained handkerchief neatly and putting it away, Valerian turned to Collette. He was worried she might have gotten monster blood on her too.

“Collette?”