Chapter 80: The One He Truly Wants to Protect
Elias had officially taken up his post for three days.
During that time, he was almost never more than a step away from Leiya.
Wherever the hem of her white dress went, a black shadow followed close behind.
Rather than protection, it felt more like surveillance.
Leiya didn't understand why—but as the days passed, the constant presence began to grate on her nerves.
By lunchtime on the fourth day, she finally looked up at the dark figure standing by the wall.
"Elias, I'm just having lunch. Do you really have to stare at me the entire time?"
"—That is my duty."
She sighed.
"To be honest, I was hoping for a guard who was a bit more humorous."
"—Miss, may I ask you a question?"
"…Alright. What is it?"
"What happens when you eat pumpkin together with poison?"
"…What?"
"—You get poisoned."
Leiya: (≖_≖'')
She silently lifted her cup and took a sip of warm milk, as if trying to ward off the sudden chill.
Meanwhile, Elias spoke inwardly:
Only the fourth day…
And the thing hiding inside Leiya's body is already losing patience?
Being watched so closely, unable to act at all—
That must be unbearable.
A gentle knock sounded at the door. Pierre entered, his expression grave.
"Miss, due to an accident in the alchemy laboratory, this afternoon's potion class has been canceled."
"—An accident?!"
"What kind of accident?"
Leiya's eyes widened. Alongside her surprise, there was unmistakably a hint of excitement.
"Reporting to you, Miss—it involved Lady Frieren, who is currently staying at the manor."
"She attempted to demonstrate to the other three young ladies how to create 'a perfume with an extremely pungent odor' using nasal extract of Green Demon Boar."
"Due to improper handling, an explosion occurred."
"Lady Frieren and the three young ladies have been rushed to the infirmary."
"The entire laboratory is now filled with an overwhelming stench!"
"No one dares to clean it—anyone who smells it ends up vomiting!"
Elias: (ᇂ_ᇂ|||)
That idiot Frieren…
Never a moment of peace.
Carrying around concentrated nasal extract of Green Demon Boar—and of all places, setting it off on someone else's property.
"—Pfft! Hahaha!"
Leiya burst into laughter, looking at Elias with genuine interest.
"Frieren… that's the white-haired elf who came with you, right?"
"To cause something like this in the manor—she sounds like a fascinating person~"
The moment Frieren's name left Leiya's lips, Elias grew alert.
Damn it…
She noticed her after all.
Allowing Frieren to remain in the manor had indeed been a mistake.
"Yes, Miss. She is Flamme's disciple—just a temporary guest staying here."
"—Flamme's disciple?!"
Leiya sprang to her feet, excitement lighting up her face.
"Then I absolutely have to meet her!"
But in the very next moment—
Elias stepped forward and blocked the doorway.
From his perspective, Leiya's interest in Frieren was anything but innocent.
"Miss, for your safety, it would be best not to meet a dangerous individual like Frieren, who behaves so recklessly."
"I would further recommend expelling Frieren from Silverlake Manor altogether."
"—What did you just say?!"
Leiya stared at him in disbelief.
"You live under the same roof as Frieren, and yet you're completely indifferent?"
"Miss, Frieren brought this upon herself. My responsibility extends only to your safety."
Leiya shook her head, unable to believe what she was seeing as she looked at Elias's cold expression.
"So that's it, Elias. Not only are you humorless—you're utterly heartless."
Elias froze.
He nearly burst out laughing.
Heartless?
Just now, Leiya—no, Seven Sages of Destruction, Sage · Grausam—had the nerve to call him heartless?!
When they were both crows, who was really blacker than whom?
And stepping back—Grausam could practically be considered his grand-disciple.
Scolding your own grandfather to his face?
Utterly upside down.
Did that brat really think that borrowing the body of a noble young lady and putting on a show of righteousness would make Elias back down?
"Miss Leiya, the Special-Grade Guardian Medal grants me the duty to protect you."
"Even if Frieren were to die, I would not allow you to approach a source of danger."
"Everything I do is for your protection."
The words struck hard.
Leiya was left speechless.
The gentle smile she had worn during the awarding ceremony was gone without a trace.
At the side, Pierre didn't dare to speak—he even took two cautious steps back.
His mind was filled with images of Erwin's horrific fate.
That was exactly the effect Elias wanted.
"Alright, Miss Leiya."
"I will remain outside and guard you until the laboratory incident has been fully resolved."
With that, Elias turned decisively and exited the room, standing guard at the door like a bronze statue.
His expression was stern—
But inwardly, he sneered.
Trying to play games with me…
That thing probably hadn't realized it yet.
In fact, not even Elias himself had realized—
The one he truly wanted to protect was someone else entirely.
---
Silverlake Manor · Infirmary
Zannie, Yuna, and Camilla lay neatly lined up on hospital beds, their faces pale green, retching intermittently.
"Frieren… guh… didn't you say… guh… it was completely safe… guh?!"
Frieren, lying on a bed beside them:
«(´✘_✘`)»
"I'm sorry… guh…"
"I added too much… guh… green-nasal extract…"
It wasn't until night fell that the retching finally stopped, and the girls drifted into uneasy sleep.
In the middle of the night, Frieren groggily opened her eyes.
A pale face hovered before her.
"Ugh… Elias…"
"Aren't you supposed to be guarding Miss Leiya…"
"—Shh. Keep your voice down."
"This is my clone."
Elias lowered his gaze, looking at the miserable white-haired elf and murmured with mild irritation:
"Frieren, it's only been a few days, and you've already caused this much trouble."
Frieren: «(´✘_✘`)»
"W-Waaah… Elias, I thought… you came because you were worried about me…"
"—Worried?"
"After eight years among humans, I roughly understand what that emotion is, but…"
Elias shook his head regretfully.
"Frieren, I don't think I'll ever feel concern for you."
"—Tch…"
Frieren sniffed weakly.
"If you're just here to scold me… don't… I already feel awful enough…"
"Frieren, you—"
At that moment, Elias noticed the flush on her face—
And the way her lips parted slightly as she breathed out hot air.
He reached out and placed a hand on her forehead.
The next second, his cold fingers were met with searing heat.
This is…
A fever?
It was the first time Elias had ever seen Frieren sick.
He was used to her lively, noisy self—now she lay limp and helpless.
The contrast unsettled him more than he expected.
He had always complained about her being too loud.
Yet now, a single thought rose unbidden—
I want her back to normal.
Elias drew a slow breath.
He didn't want to admit it, but this troublesome little elf…
Somehow, she was always hard to leave unattended.
Back when Serie occasionally fell ill, it had always been Aivis who dealt with it.
As for him—
He didn't even know basic healing magic.
Tch…
Fine.
He would at least use ice magic to ease her condition.
---
The next morning, when Frieren woke up, she touched her face—
The fever was gone.
Then she immediately noticed the lingering trace of magic on her forehead.
"Ice magic…"
"Could it have been Elias?"
«(=ω=)»
"Heh heh heh~"
"That guy totally cares about me—he's just stubborn as always~"