saiki

88

Ch. 88.1 - Familiar Contract (1)
The next day, in the morning.

Haewonryang, who woke up at the Hospital in Skyflower Haven, looked out the window with a dazed expression.

Chirp! Chirp!

The sound of chirping birds tickled his ears. He turned slightly to the side and saw Edna peeling an apple.

She had a strangely excited expression.

"You know that situation where you care for the patient and peel apples by their side when they wake up? I've always wanted to try it. Hey, kid, you have the sense to open your eyes at the right time, right? Huh?"

She playfully said, revealing her pearly white teeth.

Haewonryang asked in a bewildered expression.

"Where is this...?"

"What? You don't remember? We came to play at Skyflower Haven."

To be precise, it was a field trip. If it were the usual Haewonryang, he would have corrected her, but right now, his mind hadn't fully returned.

"Do you remember what happened?"

"I... don't know."

"Is that so?"

Edna secretly sighed in relief. It would be better if she didn't remember. The memories of being controlled by a dark mage would only bring shame as a mage.

Only five people knew about this incident.

Kaen and Grace were not the type to reveal such things, and it was not appropriate for them to do so either.

Baek Yu-Seol and Mayuseong decided to keep the fact that they turned into dark mages a secret to protect his honor.

If Haewonryang were to find out that he had become a dark mage, he would be consumed by endless guilt.

They were truly kind boys in many ways.

"Recently, you had an unknown fever in your body, but it has been completely treated now."

"How...?"

"How did it happen? I did it, you know. Even if I look like this, I'm a brilliant mage. You know?"

"... Is that so?"

Haewonryang sighed deeply, touching his forehead.

Somehow, he felt a weight lifted off his chest. The unpleasant emotions that had been stabbing at his heart disappeared completely.

Thinking of Baek Yu-Seol and Mayuseong, he didn't feel any jealousy or inferiority. Instead, he felt a strong sense of determination.

‘... That's your true self.’

Seeing Haewonryang's fiery gaze, Edna thought to herself how fortunate it was.

Then, their eyes met. There was no change in the affectionate gaze they exchanged.

Feeling apologetic, Edna forced a bitter smile.

‘How many beautiful women are there in this world? Why are you like this, seriously…’

The statement that there couldn’t be friendship between a man and a woman was a complete lie.

From a woman's perspective, there were often cases where they genuinely wanted to be friends with men.

Haewonryang had feelings beyond friendship. That was why she was worried.

If he were to confess one day, their relationship would be immediately jeopardized.