The Stupid Cannon Fodder is Stunning Today

Chapter 32: They Stumble That Run Fast

Jovette sucked in a breath. 

Rowan's mouth fell open. 

Mercury paused in his movement. 

Tobus' torso was... a web of white scars against copper skin. There were scars from cuts, stabs, burns, and even arrows. On his chest, there was a distinctive fractal pattern near his heart that hinted at a close call with lightning magic. 

What the hell. 

It wasn't a question, but rather a reactionary response to the sheer bullshit that was the mangled state of Tobus' body. 

A mission success rate did not reflect the injuries sustained by agents who held those records. 

That sentence had never been truer. 

It wasn't just the scars that sent Rowan's mind reeling.  

There was now the addition of two ghastly wounds on Tobus' torso that would soon be added to his collection. 

A deep and long sword cut was on his back and oozing blood. On his side, there was a gash that definitely needed to be stitched. 

"Toby..." Jovette breathed. 

She quickly went over to her cousin and knelt in front of him. Her eyes were glued on the wounds. 

"It's fine," Tobus assured her and then hissed when he tried to move. 

"You need to stay down," Bel commanded, his voice laced with a bit of edge. 

Tobus unhappily remained where he was. He sighed and closed his eyes once more.

"We're losing time." 

"Don't start!" 

"I've had worse." 

Bel frowned. "Doesn't matter. Mercury, get the needles ready. Rowan, the sleeping potion if you have any." 

"No," Tobus immediately said. 

Bel was displeased by his response. "It will be painful--and I don't care if you've had worse, we have the resources and I care about you!" 

Woah.

There was silence. 

Bel was panting after his outburst. His eyes were blown wide with anger and something else Rowan couldn't describe. It was like a mix between unwillingness and stubbornness and... dare he say... a hint of longing. 

Rowan had never seen Bel act like this. 

Sure, there were the occasional complaints about Tobus trying to "keep the peace" in his own violent way, but... nothing like this.

Everybody was staring between Tobus, who still had his eyes closed, and Bel, who kept staring at him with a near-pleading expression on his face. 

Finally, however, Tobus made a noise of assent. 

"... Okay." 

Lo and behold, Bel was making progress. 

Rowan didn't know what kind of progress, but there was progress. 

They all suddenly went into action. 

Jovette assisted Mercury. 

She poured the disinfectant liquor onto Tobus' wounds. It made Rowan cringe, imagining the unbearable sting on cuts like those. 

Tobus didn't even flinch, though his brows did knit together ever so slightly. 

"Rowan, sleeping potion," Bel ordered.