Chapter XCI - The Truth of Me (part 2)

My gaze studied their expressions. Some of them looked shocked and worried, but Valey is much calmer than usual.

This is… weird.

"H-Hai..."

I said to them, and they suddenly became at ease.

"How is he?"

"Exactly as you can see."

I walked over to see his condition better. The bite marks from the hell hounds are still there. I didn't heal him completely, and that gave him a large scar on his neck.

I blamed myself for not healing him properly. That time, I should have used more energy. Now, he has a permanent scar on his neck.

"I'm sorry."

I said suddenly, and everyone else turned their gaze at me.

"I should have healed you properly. I should have been able to protect you. But I didn't."

"Ri… ze..."

Hod muttered very softly. He was very tired to move, possibly because he is still recovering from the lack of blood. It could also be because the weight on his mind that he received after being hurt that much.

"... Sorry Hod."

Remembering how desperate we were trying to stay alive back at the cave, how angry I was seeing Hod's legs away from his body. I can't help but become very angry.

I should have been able to do more.

"You have done enough."

My eyes became wide open when hearing his voice. Everyone else also got surprised when they heard Hod spoke. He was half asleep ever since I entered the room, and suddenly he can speak again.

But, he sounded very weak.

"I… gave up..."

He started speaking again. Valey warned him to stop speaking and gather strength, but he kept on opening his mouth.

"Seeing how hopeless we were at that situation, I have given up..."

My eyes watch as he moves his weak mouth to speak. Judging from how weak he is, it is definitely a lack of blood.

"But you... You never gave up... You even slaughter... Those things. Hahah."

He chuckled as he spoke. Hod did mention that I should leave him alone at the dungeon, but I didn't listen and still grabbed him anyway. As a result, my legs became extremely tired from continuously running, to the point where it couldn't move when it matters.

"... Who would have thought. A member of my team is... stronger than any White ranked adventurer."

His voice is still very weak, but we all listened.

I finished healing him silently, but it's meaningless. The fatigue didn't come because of the imperfection on his body. It's because of the lack of energy.

"We should... leave you guys."

Valey said as she stood up. She signalled Barett and Cony to leave the room. Now, there's only the two of us.

I pulled the seat where Valey sat and moved closer to him.

Hod turned his weak gaze to me, and he asked me a question.

"Rize... I'm sorry for asking this…"

From the way he asked, it sounded like an important question. I leaned my head closer so I can hear him clearer, but I immediately regret it. 

"... But you are a man, aren't you?"

...

Huh?

Wait... what?

How did he…

Actually, I shouldn't be surprised.

In this world, if anyone would figure out something like that, my first guess would probably be Hod.

Not once have I ever told anyone about it, not a single soul. And yet, here he is, the man who figured it out.

He is indeed a genius… that title will never walk away from him, even if he dies.

Finally... Someone I can talk to.

A wide mad grin formed on my face as I chuckled.

"How... did you know?"

"Hahah… It's a little bit obvious."

He chuckled weakly as he tried not to cough.

"I thought it was weird how you always stick with Valey. You also never even hang out with guys… At first I thought you only liked girls, and apparently I was right."

"And? That can't be just it."

"A lot of things you do aren't exactly… lady-like. You never seem to care about being pretty or whatever."

"That part might have been too obvious."

"And… how strong you were when your hands and legs got charred, and also… when you lost the ability to use magic. Any normal girl would have stopped adventuring and looked for another job, one that suits a lady more... but you didn't. I was very sure then."

"... You knew it wasn't just my arm?"

"I saw them back at the cave. You turned into a... Devil?"

We both chuckled when he mentioned that.

"Yeah, let's just call it the 'Devil' form. Sounds cool?"

"Heh, why not? You should teach me how to become that scary, will ya?"

"Well, you have to switch gender first."

"Ah… then never mind."

We laughed again.

It's nice speaking to someone this naturally again. He mentioned many other things that didn't really suit the way I look, and we ended up having a long chat. He also mentioned some stuff about me getting pissed every time I get sexually harassed, and that also became one of the hints that he figured out.

"I really wanted to kill the one who did this… I really do."

"Hahah. I can tell."

"I can't stand being in this... body. But, I guess I can't do anything about it."

"How did it happen, anyway? You transferring to a different body?"

Should I… tell him?

Yeah… I probably should.

"… Well, the truth is..."

I started telling him the truth. He knows my secret by figuring it out himself, he deserves to know the rest of the stuff.

I told him that I didn't come from this world, that I came from a world where technology rules instead of magic, and that the world didn't have magic. I told him about what things were in my world, as well as how I ended up coming here.

As expected, he was very interested.

"All kinds of stuff are controlled with technology. Let's say, transportation. There's this giant metal bird called airplanes and it can transport you between continents."

"Wow... Such a wild world..."

"Indeed it is."

He seemed to be getting better now. While talking, he was able to move his body up, completely disregarding the pain on his mind, all so that he could listen to my mouth better.

Looks like he just needed someone to chat with him and get rid of the mental pain that he is enduring. We ended up having a long talk about it, and I ended it with the story of how I came here.

He suddenly landed his gaze on his leg, and then stared at what is left of his other leg.

"I will… most likely quit being an adventurer."

"I figured. Which is why I'm quitting too."

"R-Really? But you-"

"-Temporarily."

Hod looked surprised, but then he became curious.

"Oh? Then, what are you planning?"

A grin formed on my face, and I lifted one finger.

"I'm going to the magic academy."