After saying goodbye to Fini and Leina and stepping out of Holy Blood Academy, the sky had taken on a tint of dusk.
‘I’ll head back late, but I already told her I’d be late so she won’t worry.’
Thinking this, Lorevil strode straight toward the café where Mahina worked.
Though it was a little late, it was a good thing she’d told Noxia she’d be coming back later.
By the time she reached the café, she happened to see Mahina taking off her black server’s apron, about to clock out.
The girl’s face was weary, her lashes drooping low.
Beneath her watery eyes, aside from that alluring beauty mark, there were faint dark circles.
When Mahina saw Lorevil approaching, an irrepressible joy bloomed over her small face.
Her eyes brightened at first, then quickly dimmed.
“You’re here?”
“Yeah. How have you been?”
Lorevil walked over, naturally taking the small bag from her hand, and asked gently.
Not seeing Mahina for a few days gave her an indescribable feeling—like worrying about a stray cat wandering outside, concerned about whether it was doing well.
The two girls walked side by side.
On the noisy street turned quiet, only the echo of their footsteps on the stone pavement could be heard.
For a moment, neither had anything to say.
Lorevil sensed something was off and asked, “Did something happen?”
“A few days ago, when you weren’t around, a customer at the shop said the coffee I made didn’t taste right. He even slammed the cup on the table and splashed me with it.”
Mahina paused for a moment before speaking softly, “But it was okay. Madame Audrey helped me out, took most of the blame off me, and didn’t let me get too humiliated.”
Though Mahina mentioned it lightly, Lorevil knew she must have suffered a lot.
Mahina was gentle by nature and not good at arguing.
Faced with such harassment, she would have been at a loss, enduring it silently.
Even though Lorevil had repeatedly told her to be stronger, it had little effect.
“As long as you’re all right. Madame Audrey is a good person. If you run into trouble like that again, ask her for help.”
Lorevil comforted her.
But Mahina keenly sensed something wrong.
“And what about you?”
“If I run into this kind of trouble and can’t solve it, can I ask you for help?”
Lorevil was startled and stopped walking.
The girl stared at her stubbornly, speaking word by word:
“Lorevil, do you hate me?”
Lorevil raised her hand and stroked Mahina’s hair.
It was as soft as before, but a bit drier.
“I…”
“I don’t hate you, it’s just…”
“But that day… I was so scared, and I missed you so much.”
Mahina interrupted her, looking down and whispering:
“When I was crying in the back room, I wished so much that you were by my side. Even if you just said one word, or patted my shoulder.”
“But I don’t have a way to contact you. I didn’t even know who to tell. I could only be alone…”
The girl’s voice was full of loneliness and helplessness.
Like a lost cub, licking its wounds alone.
And Lorevil could only repeat those three words.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry.”
Even though she felt deeply for Mahina, she couldn’t give her the future Mahina wanted, nor could she even give her companionship.
That Mahina had been able to face those malicious people on her own this time made Lorevil somewhat relieved.
Lorevil even felt that Mahina had finally dared to confront such harassment, seeking help on her own and handling the aftermath properly.
Mahina had really grown up.
Lorevil thought silently.
Perhaps breaking up now would be the best choice for both of them.
But seeing the moisture in Mahina’s eyes, Lorevil felt both heartache and powerlessness.
She couldn’t help but question herself.
Is this the right thing to do?
The thought had barely formed before Lorevil crushed it.
She knew their current relationship was abnormal.
“You’re getting stronger now. Being able to handle these things on your own—that’s great.”
Lorevil praised her sincerely.
Mahina looked at the relief in her beloved’s eyes, her dry lips moving, but in the end she said nothing. She just silently turned and continued walking forward.
Lorevil walked Mahina all the way to her residence.
“It’s… getting dark, and it’s not safe outside. How about staying here tonight?”
Mahina stood at the door, hesitating for a long time before mustering the courage to speak, with a hint of hopeful expectation.
“I’ll warm up some soup for you. You must be tired after today at Holy Blood Academy.”
The girl’s gaze was fixed on Lorevil, afraid she would refuse.
Lorevil unconsciously clenched her hands, but took half a step back.
She was conflicted.
Mahina now had a stable job and could handle trouble on her own. Meanwhile, Lorevil was pushing hard toward Mid Third Rank and would soon have to go to the Holy Blood Tower.
Their lives were already sprinting in different directions.
Better to make it clear now—short pain is better than long pain.
It’s better for both.
But seeing Mahina’s tired yet hopeful face, Lorevil swallowed the words that had reached her lips.
After a few seconds of silence, Lorevil finally hardened her heart and avoided Mahina’s gaze.
Her voice came out hoarse:
“Mahina, I came today to tell you something.”
The smile on Mahina’s face faded.
The expectation in her clear eyes gradually drained away, replaced by unease.
“Wh-what? Is it urgent? Maybe we can talk tomorrow…”
Mahina gripped tightly at the new clothes Lorevil had bought her, whispering.
“Yes, it’s important.”
Lorevil looked her in the eyes and said seriously.
Mahina had a vague bad feeling. Her fingers turned white from the strain.
Lorevil’s voice was very soft, like a feather, but it struck like a thunderbolt.
“We… should break up.”
The words exploded in Mahina’s ears.
She could feel that after those words, Mahina’s body shook violently, and the air around them seemed to freeze at that moment.
“Break… up?”
Tears welled up in Mahina’s eyes without warning, rolling down her pretty face.
Lorevil didn’t dare meet her eyes, only lowering her head.
“Why? Why break up… I don’t understand.”
The moment the words left her mouth, Lorevil already regretted them.
But even with the Darkening Blood Bar, she couldn’t keep going like this forever.
“Look at you now… you can take care of yourself. You don’t need me anymore. And I need to improve my strength; I can’t always be with you like before.”
Lorevil sighed.
“Breaking up like this is best for both of us. You deserve a better life.”
Lorevil knew how much those words sounded like an excuse, more like the actions of a heartbreaker.
But she couldn’t think of a gentler way to put it.
She couldn’t give Mahina the future she wanted.
Rather than letting her wait with hope, it was better to cut this attachment early.
So that Mahina could truly let go and start a new life.
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