The World They Left Behind

Arga exhaled in relief, a wave of gratitude washing over him. "Thank goodness... Thank you so much. You've saved us all. I... I don't know how to repay your kindness."

Hearing that, the woman's expression shifted momentarily. A flicker of awkwardness crossed her face before she turned her gaze away. Her voice wavered slightly, though she tried to maintain her composure. "Don't think I did this out of charity. I'm just repaying a debt. You saved me before, so it's only fair."

But moments later, she turned back. This time, her smile was slightly mischievous. "But don't think too highly of yourself. You know, there isn't a single man in this world who would dare touch me, let alone hold me, because they know it would only end in death. Once you're fully recovered, you'll have to take responsibility for what you did earlier."

Her gaze sharpened, and Arga could only swallow nervously, his face serious—or rather, scared.

Her words were delivered with conviction, echoing with undeniable firmness. But as those words lingered, she paused, her eyes locking onto Arga's with an intensity that couldn't be hidden. There was pride in her gaze, and though she seemed so certain, it felt as if there was something deeper she wanted to convey. Unconsciously, her breath hitched for a moment, and in the silence, she realized how deeply their gazes intertwined.

But as quickly as it happened, she averted her eyes, trying to mask her confusion by rubbing the back of her neck. Awkwardness crept in, and she rebuilt her wall of composure, though she couldn't entirely hide the tremor that lingered.

"Wait... You really jumped to protect me?" she asked, her voice slightly trembling, though she tried to sound neutral. "That's... remarkable... ah, I mean, unexpected," she added, attempting to shift her tone to something more casual, but failing to hide her clear admiration.

Her face, once poised and graceful, now glowed brighter, exuding an energy she tried to conceal. "I... I'm quite touched!" she said, her voice quivering with undeniable awe. Even so, a firm edge returned to her tone as if grounding herself in reality. "But regardless, everyone knows about the incident, and you'll have to face the consequences in front of them all," she added with a heavier tone, as if emphasizing the reality that awaited.

Arga stared at her, confusion clouding his mind. The drastic shifts in her emotions left him stunned, yet deep down, he began to sense something more profound. Beneath her proud demeanor, he felt an unspoken gratitude—hidden in every word, unvoiced but clear enough to understand.

Arga fell silent, caught between surprise and bewilderment. "Ah... I just... it was instinct," he replied awkwardly, his face beginning to flush as he searched for an explanation that sounded reasonable.

The woman crossed her arms, then leaned her head slightly toward Arga, her gaze piercing. "Instinct? Really? So your body moved without thinking? Hah, that's quite strange," she remarked, her tone a blend of sarcasm and admiration. Her eyes briefly sparkled, as if harboring an unspoken curiosity.

She scoffed softly, turning away momentarily as if to hide her expression. "Not that I care or anything, so don't get the wrong idea," she added, her tone slightly rushed, as though trying to convince herself. Yet, without realizing it, she glanced at Arga again, a hint of curiosity she couldn't completely suppress.

Arga could only stare, his eyes fixed on the woman before him. The elegance she exuded earlier, radiating calm, was now replaced by a fiery, uncontrollable passion. There was something different about her, something she couldn't conceal despite her attempts to mask her awkwardness. Arga was stunned, feeling as though this situation was far more complex than he had anticipated.

"Uh… can you… ah, never mind," the woman said softly, her face turning red, embarrassment clearly enveloping her. She tried to hide the tension that arose, as if attempting to reclaim the graceful demeanor that had momentarily faltered. "It's… I mean, you know…" she stammered, her words coming out weakly.

Arga gestured that her face was too close.

"Oh, right! Sorry, sorry!" She quickly stepped back and stood upright, her cheeks reddening further. Clearing her throat softly, she adjusted her posture, crossing her arms over her chest in an effort to restore her composure. "Get well soon. I can't wait to deal out your punishment. Rest up; I'll go call your friends," she said with a tone that was half-arrogant, though a faint reluctance lingered in her voice.

As she turned to leave, Arga quickly called out, "Wait, I don't know your name yet. What's your name?"

The woman's steps halted at the doorway. She turned her head slowly, her gaze deliberately dramatic, as if trying to create a memorable moment. "Ningning," she said, her lips curving into a small, confident smile. But the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her attempt to appear cold. "And don't think I care. I'm just doing what I'm supposed to," she added quickly, her voice slightly higher than usual, before walking away with an overly deliberate graceful stride.

Once Ningning disappeared from sight, Arga could only sit in silence, holding his forehead. That name echoed in his mind, though it wasn't the name itself that bothered him most. The contrast in Ningning's personality was etched vividly in his thoughts. "So elegant… but how can she also be like that?" he wondered, caught between confusion and a small laugh as he tried to process what had just happened.

Not long after, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor, breaking the stillness of the room. The door swung open wide, revealing Sana and Nico, their faces etched with deep concern. Sana immediately ran to Arga, her eyes almost brimming with tears.

"Arga! Are you okay? We were so worried about you!" she exclaimed, her voice full of emotion. Without hesitation, she hugged Arga tightly, as if to confirm he was truly there and alive. The embrace was so warm, dispelling the chill that had lingered in the room.