I Was Rejected by the Main Character in a Romantic Fantasy

Rescue operation.

It was an impossible task for an average number of mages with mediocre magical power.

Even with highly advanced modern technology, rescue operations typically take several days.

Even with magic, which is easier and simpler, the time wasn’t drastically reduced. Locating survivors and finding safe «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» rescue methods weren’t simple tasks.

That’s why I thought,

‘With overwhelming magic, wouldn’t it be possible?’

Some might say,

Are you just going to keep relying on others?

And I would confidently answer,

‘Yes.’

I know my limitations.

I’m not the Empire’s First Sword or a great mage who understands the principles of all things. There are things I can do alone and things I can’t.

This was clearly something I couldn’t handle on my own.

And at the same time, other people’s lives were at stake. In that case, I had to swallow my pride and ask someone for help.

Of course I wasn’t ashamed at all.

I need to seek help.

Then how and whose help should I seek? There was the simplest way.

‘Help me!! Ashillyamon*!!’

I had already noticed that some of Ashillya’s shadows were attached to me.

She clearly knew that I could be someone’s target. However, she wasn’t sure if it was the Second Prince eyeing her position or someone from another country.

So, to protect me, she planted shadows near me. Of course, they were also periodically collecting information about me.

Anyway, I left them alone despite knowing this because they weren’t entities that would harm me.

So I asked them for help.

“Ooh…!!”

As the imperial mages who received Ashillya’s order appeared at once and began to cast spells, the amount of debris quickly decreased, and the survivors inside were revealed.

“This way next.”

Dividing into groups, some located the survivors’ positions, while others safely removed debris to rescue the survivors.

That wasn’t all.

“Bring the injured this way!! We’ll treat those with severe injuries first!!”

Clerics from the Church stepped forward to start treating the injured. From very minor wounds to severe injuries that could be life-threatening if left untreated.

Seeing injuries quickly healed by their divine power was awe-inspiring to people.

There were two ways to call mages of this caliber.

One was to request help from the Magic Tower, and the other was, of course, Ashillya.

Since I had no connection to the Magic Tower, I naturally asked Ashillya for help. Imperial mages were known to be as talented as Magic Tower mages.

Then why were clerics here?

It was the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom. In such accident sites, injuries were inevitable, and quick treatment was crucial to save lives.

Among those capable of such quick treatment, anyone would choose clerics as their first choice.

“…We’ve successfully rescued Lord Degreff and all his retainers.”

“How is their condition?!”

“Except for minor injuries, there’s no major threat to their lives!!”

Three to four days.

That was the conclusion reached by experts putting their heads together. At least that much time would be needed to rescue the Degreff family head, who had gone to investigate the very core.

But ironically. They were able to be rescued in less than 10 hours.

Of course, that was extremely fortunate.

“Dad…!!”

“Oh, Helena…!!”

Watching from a distance as Helena, with a face that looked like it might burst into tears at the slightest touch, jumped into the dirt-covered Flott’s arms, I smiled slightly.

It was truly fortunate.

Not being tactless enough to interrupt the touching father-daughter reunion and ruin the atmosphere, I quietly turned away while brushing off the dirt on my body.

“…Ah, thank you for your hard work.”

“We only did what we had to do.”

When I expressed my gratitude to the shadows who had somehow approached me, they accepted it with their usual stoic expressions.

“So, do you have something to say?”

Thinking there must be a reason why they, skilled at concealing themselves, revealed their presence, I asked, and the shadows nodded silently.

“We have two messages to deliver. The first is from Her.”

“…Yes.”

“She hopes you’ll keep some time free as she plans to visit soon.”

“I understand.”

After hearing Ashillya’s message, I nodded silently.

Even though it was a project led by Ashillya, using imperial mages must have required considerable effort. I’d have to pay a price commensurate with that.

“The second is a message from the Saintess.”

“…Yes?”

I tensed up.

I wasn’t particularly nervous when hearing Ashillya’s message. But for some reason, I started to feel anxious as I was about to listen to the Saintess’ message.

Maybe it had something to do with how I am an honored guest of the Church.

At the same time, given that it was about saving lives, it was obvious that the Church would easily agree due to its nature.

But still, she might demand something from me.

Swallowing hard and nodding, the shadow continued speaking.

“She also hopes for a day to meet you.”

“…Huh?”

The Saintess?!

I exclaimed in shock, but the shadows just nodded silently.

Ashillya was one thing, but why on earth the Saintess?

Questions arose, but there was no one to answer them. So I could only sigh deeply and lower my head.

I don’t know what it’s about, but since I used this much manpower… I’ll have to pay the price.

“I understand.”

“Yes, then we’ll relay that to both of them.”

“Yes…”

After answering weakly with my head hung low, I soon shook my head and stretched vigorously.

‘Well, as long as everything turned out well, that’s all that matters!’

***

“Are you alright, Lord?”

“Ah, yes, I’m perfectly fine.”

Helena breathed a sigh of relief, seeing Flott’s usual demeanor.

To be honest,

When Helena heard the news that her father had been in an accident, she felt like her world was crumbling.

It was the same when she arrived at the accident site. And what saved her then was Felix.

Turning her gaze to where Felix had been, she saw that he was already gone. Seeing his figure that had disappeared at some point, Helena could only exhale softly.

Helena knew that the imperial mages and the clerics from the Holy Kingdom… all of them had appeared thanks to Felix.

After all, there was no way she couldn’t hear the conversation happening right next to her.  However, what Helena was truly grateful for wasn’t those things.

To be precise, while she was grateful for those things too, there was something she was even more thankful for.

It was that Felix silently held onto hope even when everyone else had given up.

Recalling Felix’s figure continuing the rescue operation without giving up, sweating profusely and covered in dirt, Helena unknowingly bit her lower lip hard.

Her heart.

It was beating too fiercely.

Feeling her heart pounding so strongly as if it might burst through her skin, Helena unknowingly placed her hand on her chest and exhaled deeply.

She might not know about other people, but Helena knew well what this feeling, this state, meant because she had experienced it once before.

Her reddened face and thumping heart.

Just thinking about him made her lower abdomen feel tightly clenched.

‘Huh…’

Sighing deeply without realizing it, Helena carefully turned her gaze to look at her father.

Watching her father smiling kindly at people approaching him while covered in dirt, Helena tried to calm her heart.

She shouldn’t feel this emotion. Especially not this kind of emotion towards him.

But contrary to such thoughts, her body was honest. Such feelings weren’t something one could control at will.

She tried to calm her pounding heart, but it didn’t go as she wished.

“Hm? Helena, are you feeling unwell?”

“…Ah, no?! I’m, I’m fine…!!”

When Flott asked, looking at her reddened cheeks, Helena shook her head vigorously.

Seeing this, Flott just shrugged his shoulders slightly.