Your and My Asylum

Book 2: Chapter 9

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It was in the middle of the night when Sii had opened her eyes.

Yujin! Dont overdo yourself!

Sii, who had listened to the whole story, spoke with puffed up cheeks.

Really, what did you do while I was unconscious? For you to have charged towards Miss Earl, Miss Earl who was also in that basement room at that! Theres a limit to overworking yourself! Yujins arm could have flown off. Theres a chance that it could have not ended with just your arm!

Sii uttered while patting my forehead. She was using her right arm which she had reattachednot.

I had received the severed arm within that day. I had received the medicine as well. Under Zias instructions, I had even attached it. However, Zia said this at the same time.

Similar to how there are no magic spells that are omnipotent, theres no medicine thats omnipotent as well. Yujin, as these words can also be said in your World of Spires exactly, in this world, those words contain the same weight. Itd be a good idea if she didnt push herself for the time being.

Can you elaborate on the definition of for the time being and push herself?

The time period is about 1 month. To be more specific, she shouldnt lift anything thats heavier than a spoon.

So in other words, this girl, who was in that state, was currently telling me not to overdo myself.

Thats right.

Yujin. Whats with your face? Are you mad?

Sii hesitantly drew back her hand and asked.

I.

Im not mad.

Although I actually was, it wasnt towards Sii.

Moreover, an anger that came from being unable to change anything would only become a poison if you kept it contained within yourself. If youre going to harbor it, then at the very least, you need to do so after youve gained the resolve to change something.

Yujin.

Zia placed a hand on my shoulder. I let out a sigh.

Im going to organize the situation.

Mm.

First off, Sii cant use her right arm for a month. Maid work will be impossible. Miss Sii, is it possible for you to apply for a long-term vacation?

Sii let out an eh sound.

Something like that, how could it be possible.

Miss Sii, please think about it a little more and answer. Is it possible, or is it impossible? If its impossible, then whats the reason why you cannot? We can only think together if we know the situation as well. In a calm and orderly way.

Mm, mmm. After thinking about it for a moment, Sii Garno Mikatni responded hesitantly. If I go back to Sir Mikatnis home it may be possible. But even if I go back, I wouldnt be able to spend my time there recuperating. Sir Merc Mikatni has been bedridden and the person who currently has authority over both the house and the forge is Sir Mikatnis actual daughter. In other words, my foster-sister. And that person, you should know since you met her last time, but.

Yes, she dislikes Miss Sii, right? How about just living outside of the castle? For at least one month until your arm is healed.

Thatd be possible if I had money saved up, but.

Sii trailed off. I understood what she meant since she was biting her lower lip.

The pretext was that they discovered you stealing, right? Is it compensation?

Instead of saying something, Sii responded by showing a flushed face. Her red face didnt mean that she was embarrassed, but rather, it meant that she was angry.

Its most likely impossible to cover that compensation fee with the savings of a maid. For the time being, your savings were taken as a forfeit. Was the rest put under as debt?

Siis red face became even more flushed. If I use the incident that occurred while I was still in the basement as the previous example, then it would be 3 times the value of the pieces of jewelry that were discovered. As I thought, even the Earl wouldnt request for things without a decent reason.

The price of the medicine that helped reattach Miss Siis arm.

I paid that part. You dont have to worry about it.

.

Did the Earl not say something?

Whatever, is what she said. She simply said that. Thats why, I simply did whatever.

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It should have been quite expensive. A medicine that can reattach an arm, that is.

I used up all of my savings.

Zia spoke while averting her gaze. Sii made a precipitously panicked face.

Thank you very much, Miss Zia. For someone like me.

Theres no reason for you to thank me. When your arm was being cut off, and even when Yujin and her Excellency were talking in the basement, in the end, I wasnt helpful at all.

Thats why this is the least I could do, it felt as if I could hear these words inaudibly. Zia Batsand. My sword.

You really dont have any tact, do you?

What do you mean, Yujin?

It was literally as I had said.

If I were to speak from my perspective, then that insect creature not having to experience any more pain in that very moment was thanks to Zias entrance, so she wasnt entirely unhelpful. But if she was going to agonize over it by herself, then itll probably be better off if I let her reproach herself for now. Furthermore, that agony on her face wasnt solely because she was blaming herself.

Also, Yujin, for the time being, itll be difficult for us to meet.

Is it because of Yudia?

Thatsright. My teacher plans to stay here through the entirety of this month and the month after. As his pupil and as Her Excellency the Earls knight, I must accompany him. Moreover, if you consider the prophecy, then with my teacher, while hes here for this month, if I dont protect Her Excellencys side.

I see youre still concerned about that prophecy.

Its fine to scoff at me, Yujin. You have the right to do so.

Not really.

Within this girl, her overall priority will always have the Earl at the top. As much as I was aware of this, there was nothing I could be hurt about or scoff at.

Just make sure to change the battery on your teachers phone properly. The solar power generator, you roughly understand how to use it, right? If theres perhaps something he doesnt know, then tell him to come to me.

Even after going through all that, youre still concerned about my teacher?

If I said I wasnt upset, then that would be a lie. But Im the one who had paid dearly for judging a person wrong. If Im going to continue getting involved with your teacher, then I should make sure to learn about him properly this time.

By those words, then even Her Excellency?

I wont give up on her.

I adjusted my glasses and spoke.

Everything I said to the Earl back in the basement was sincere. Without that girl, I wont be able to survive here and I also wont be able to return home. Furthermore, if Im unable to get that distant from her physically, then that means I cant leave her alone mentally either. Consistently sticking by her side and improving her by even the slightest amount is for my sake. I wont give up on it.

I spoke.

Theres nothing in the world thats a waste of time, after all.

If I deduct the optimal situation and go forward while taking steps that only involve tasks that Im capable of, then one day.

Thank you, Yujin.

Dont thank me. I said it in the basement, but this is for myself. Thats why theres no need for you to be concerned in that regard and returning back to the topic of Sii. Miss Sii, itd be difficult for you to go around the castle as a maid while not working, right?

Eh! Uu, uuhm. No matter how I think about it, thats people like Mari wouldnt stay still.

I have an idea regarding that, but anyway, its fine. While Miss Siis arm is healing, Ill take care of all of Miss Siis duties.

T-Theres no in the first place, isnt Yujin a squire? Even if you say my duties, theyre all duties of a maid. If asked, its already weird that youve been spending your time with me until now for you to even do my job in my stead, thats.

I wanted to do something about that with certainty anyway. Zia, whats my current status? Im still your knight apprentice, right?

Thats, right. As long as Her Excellency the Earl doesnt prepare a new job for you or give you any verbal promises, then I believe that standing will continue.

All right. If thats the case, then, for the time being, give me the permission to be Siis guardian. Inform the Earl about it as well. If the Earl calls, then Ill dash to her no matter what, so please tolerate this. Tell her that.

Considering the Silver Lion Earls pride, shell probably only give a whatever as a response, but its important that I gave a pledge to her.

Theres a chance that Siis arm would have never been cut off if I had done this at the start.

No.

Theres no need for a chance.

Yujin is that fine?

Sii inquired cautiously. I gave her a nod.

Its fine. Rather, dont overexert yourself, Miss Sii. If you overexert yourself further than this and strain your arm, then at that time, Ill get angry.

Sii sealed her lips. With a red face, she lowered her head while hugging her shoulders.

Okay~~! Thats obvious. I dont want to live with only a single arm as well! Because Ill be careful Mm, Ill be careful, Yujin!

Sii uttered that and laughed, Ehehe.

.

Zia, can you leave for a second?

Hm? Whats the matter, Yujin?

Just leave for now. This is a request.

Mm. Understood. Its about time for me to check on the horses anyway. Ill be right back.

Zia looked back and forth between Sii and me before standing up. Zia bowed her head once and headed outside.

Dawn was breaking. From the stables, while the sound of the horsesits not an exact expression, but if I were to substitute it with something from my world, then it would be difficult to translate it as something elseflapping their wings resonated, Sii and I were left alone in the office.

I spoke.

Miss Sii.

Hm~~? What is it, Yujin?

Are you all right?

Sii opened her eyes wide.

Hm? Yup~ like I said, Im okay. I dont have a lot of energy, but Im fine and you said youll look after me, Yujin!

Are you sure?

Yup yup. Really. More than that, Yujin, Ive been asking since before, but are you o.

Im not okay.

I pushed up my glasses.

Im, upset.

The words I couldnt say while Zia was here, I said them.

Im mad at the Silver Lion Earl.

Y-Yujin, what are you i-if you say, those words thoughtlessly.

Miss Sii, are you not upset?

The smile on the edge of Siis lips thickened.

Upset, Yujin? What are you saying? If anything, Im grateful towards Miss Earls kindness. Although it hurt a bit and was unfair she gave me my arm back, gave me medicine and at that time too! She didnt lash me with her whip more. Yup yup, you should quickly forget the things that cant be helped!

Really?

Yup~~! Really. Ehehe Yujin, as well, should quickly forget it. Because itd be good, yup. Yujin.

Miss Sii.

Silence.

Are you all right?

Silence.

Its fine for you to tell me.

Thats why, Miss Sii, I continued.

Are you all right?

Long.

Long.

Silence.

Uu.

Grit.

Uuh uu

Grit, grit.

Uuuuuuuu

Gritgritgritgrit.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!

Sii grasped her head.

Theres no way, Id be all right!!

Her pale face became as bright as a fire. It went beyond that, making her face appear as if it were boiling like the surface of lava.

My arm even though I didnt do anything, my arm! It hurt I was scared! Adding to that, what do you mean by medicine Dont make me laugh! In the first place, in the first place why if youre going to do this, then why if you didnt cut it off in the first place I, just why did my arm Money! Whipped! Even Yujin was whipped Dont make me laugh!!

While gritting her teeth, while gritting her teeth as if she were grinding a millstone, she spoke.

Im mad Im, mad!!

The tears flowing down her cheeks mixed together with the blood flowing from her lips and became dyed pink.

That girl, that girl I absolutely wont leave her alone one day, without fail! No matter what happens, without fail!

Without fail.

Without fail, Ill kill.

I pulled Sii into a hug.

The heated Sii, although Ive felt it several times before, she was surprisingly hot. And small. She was trembling. It felt as if I were embracing a burning up baby bird. Ill be burned. It wont end with being burned. Ill melt. I was aware of that.

I didnt let her go.

Miss Sii, any more than that.

Yujin, why? You said it was fine to say it thats why, I, I, as well.

Thats correct. Its all right, but any more than that is.

That summer that felt as if Id melt. The cries of a starling that had filled my head to the brim.

The hospital room Minhee was in. Chanmi and I.

Because Ive gone there before, I know.

My, hands.

There are people who believe that hatred makes people stronger. If youre a normal person, then you wouldnt seriously believe that. Rage is the same as well. Once you cross a fixed line, therell only be ashes there. You yourself will burn and disappear. Thats why, any more than this. Just to this point.

Dont forget your current emotions.

Dont be swept away by them.

Since Ill help you, you must help me.

Even if it takes a somewhat long period of time.

To hear the Silver Lion Earl say, Im sorry.

I apologize.

To make her say, it was my mistake.

Forgive me.

Let us make her plead to us.

Sii grit her teeth. Heavy breathing. Each time Sii let out a breath, it felt as if my chest, which was embracing her, was being singed. Red, her face that was burning a dark reddish color was slowly returning back to her original white color.

I waited.

Eventually, Sii spoke.

Okay.

She nodded and, tightly, after pulling me into a crushingly tight hug, Sii Garno Mikatni spoke.

Okay~~! Lets do it! Yujin! Certainly, without fail, lets make her do that!

***

End

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TL Note: This the last chapter of volume 2. The side story and the afterword are after this. As some people could tell by the title of the side story on the ToC, itll be about Yudia Batsand. Itll be diving further into his backstory and itll give a rather clear picture of what kind of character he is. I should be finished with volume 2 entirely within this week, so look forward to it.

Furthermore, to those of you who keep asking when Dungeon Defense volume 5 is coming out, I literally explained it in the TL note of both the last chapter and the intermission of volume 4 that the release date hasnt been announced yet. I make sure to check up on their site nearly every day, so the moment I see that its announced, Ill make a post about it on my site. If you dont see the post, then that means it hasnt been announced. Stop. Asking.