Nox’s weight was shifted to Ethan, and I started walking ahead when Nox suddenly dropped a comment that made me freeze.
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“Miss Cherry, are you sure you’re not infected?”
“What?”
I turned around to face him, my expression puzzled. What the hell was he talking about?
“I’ve never been bitten.”
“Maybe your freakish strength isn’t from the drugs but because you’re infected? You could be an immune carrier, and the infection just stopped at enhancing your physical abilities.”
“It started long before the incident. It’s been years.”
“Hmm. Years ago, huh... Never heard stories about Cherry Sinclair’s monstrous strength.”
“Of course not. I kept it hidden. I do care about my social reputation, you know? High-class ladies are supposed to be delicate and fragile.”
“Fragility as a virtue? What a strange standard. I’m not a fan of weaklings myself.”
Nox rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he replied, and I stared at him in disbelief.
“Are you planning to keep talking like this until we die?”
“Just saying.”
Nox flashed me a casual smile.
Even while leaning on Ethan for support, Nox still had the nerve to be relaxed. It was so typical of him that I almost laughed.
“Shut up and move faster before I drop you,” Ethan snapped irritably.
If it were anyone else, Ethan wouldn’t hesitate to let go of them completely. Nox seemed to pick up on the vibe, shrugged his shoulders, and fell silent.
As we approached the mansion, the tension thickened. No one spoke, and every step we took became slow and deliberate.
Two monsters were loitering near the front gate. I glanced back at Nox and said,
“Mr. Ludfisher, I’ll carry you.”
“...Handle me carefully. Pretend I’m fragile glass.”
Nox looked resigned, his expression one of forced acceptance.
I nodded, handed him my bag, then hoisted him over my shoulder. Ethan shot me a look—somewhere between bemused and impressed.
“Hey, focus on your job. Don’t mind me,” Nox said sharply, his voice unusually stiff. It was obvious he was embarrassed and didn’t want anyone staring.
“I feel like I’m going to puke. Blood’s rushing to my head.”
Ignoring his grumbling, I glanced at Ethan. He made a gesture with his fingers—mimicking firing a gun. It was the attack signal.
With my free hand, I pulled out my axe and started moving toward the gate.
But before I could act, Ethan stepped in and swiftly slashed down both monsters with his sword. It was over in seconds. He’d handled two at once without even breaking a sweat.
‘Wow, it looks like I didn’t need to bother.’
Watching Ethan clear the path, I leisurely carried Nox forward.
Fortunately, aside from those two, most of the monsters had wandered off toward the village, allowing us to reach the gate without much trouble.
Unlocking the gate with a key, I finally set Nox down inside.
“Mr. Ludfisher, you need to rest immediately.”
I pressed the back of my hand to Nox’s forehead. His body had been burning up the entire time I carried him. It must have been the fever from his leg injury.
Ethan pushed the heavy gate shut with a grunt.
“Damn it, what the hell is this thing made of?”
The stone gate was so heavy that Ethan swore under his breath as he struggled to lock it.
He slung Nox over his shoulder again without ceremony. Nox didn’t resist—his fever had spiked even more, and now that we were safe, the tension drained from his body.
His eyelids fluttered weakly before finally closing.
He fell into a deep, feverish sleep.