My Childhood Friend Turned Yandere in the Apocalypse

"Isn’t this unfair, Miss? I feel so sorry for you. Not only did you lose your position as the leader to a useless man, but he did not even have the decency to make you a deputy leader? Don’t you realize that your talents are being wasted here?"

Kora looked shocked at what she just heard. She immediately took Reina’s hands to show her support and to assure her that she was on her side.

But instead of looking relieved, Reina felt annoyed and pulled her hands back.

"I am happy to know that you recognize my talents. But unfortunately, leadership is not one of them. I am already in charge of people’s lives as a doctor, I do not want to take even more burden upon myself."

The more Reina spoke, the worse Kora’s expression became. And as her expression worsened, so did her glare at Rin.

He suddenly felt like he was being blamed for something he did not even do.

"Miss Reina, you are a lovely person with a lot of personality and charm—"

"Thank you?"

"-but your talents are being wasted in this settlement on these useless men who do not know how to appreciate you. It seems I have no choice but to extend my hand to you. Please come to our settlement. I promise we will treat you well."

Kora seemed convinced that Reina was being mistreated. She held on to Reina’s hand and looked her in the eyes as she spouted this bullshit.

Even Reina looked taken aback by Kora’s words and her words started to fail her.

"Excuse me, but what kind of bullshit am I hearing? Is this an accusation against Rin? Why would you even say something like this?"

Reina asked in a worried voice but none of this got through to Kora. In fact, she looked even more convinced that something was going on with Reina.

"There is no need to hide the fact that you are being exploited every day. Long hours of work, too many patients and no regard for your health. We have observed it all. I also know about your sister. She is in a similar position to you, right? If you come to Girl’s Battle Frontier, then we will treat you well and not make you overwork."

Rin felt a headache incoming.

While he was certain that Reina would not betray him, a small part of him still felt worried that she might get swayed by tempting offers from outside.

A healer would be welcomed anywhere and Reina was an exceptional one. So Rin decided to try and smoothen the situation.

"Miss, I have no idea where you got your information from, but I can assure you that no one here abuses Reina."

[Rookie, that might not be true. According to the law, legal working hours for a doctor cannot exceed more than 48 hours. Miss Reina is on shift 168 hours a week, except when she’s asleep.]

Sometimes, Reina had to cut into her sleep schedule as well to take patients, so the situation sounded even worse.

But could things like legal working hours even be held up during the apocalypse? It was a matter of life and death.

Reina agreed, immediately debunking whatever Kora was insisting.

"I am not being abused here. The work I do in this settlement is being done voluntarily. I’m the only one responsible for my own health."

[What an angelic worker. Don’t you feel sorry for her, Rookie?]

Rin did feel sorry for Reina, but things were better for her now that Amelia was here to assist her. Besides, with Rin’s potion-making skill, her burden would lessen even more.

Kora still did not believe a word they said but Shelly seemed to have had enough

"Hey, I have been hearing you speak all this time, but I don’t see a single benefit in hearing you out. I won’t let Reina go anywhere—for Rin’s sake."

’Shelly, you should say settlement, not my name!’

Kora’s bad impression worsened and Reina decided to add fuel to the fire.

"That’s right. I might consider leaving the settlement, but Rin’s health is dependent on my treatment. I don’t want to leave him alone when he needs my help."

Being denied so many times was starting to frustrate Kora. But she still maintained her calm and decided to propose an alternative Rin did not see coming.

"If this is about repaying him for his help, then I have a better solution in mind. Our leader could pay the compensation and you can be free to join us after. Please think about it-"

"I already said no. How many times will you make me repeat myself?"

Reina shot down Kora and it was becoming embarrassing to watch. Rin was starting to feel bad for Kora at this point.

But it all evaporated when she showed that she did not want to learn her lesson and pressed Reina again.

"I won’t allow a girl to be manipulated-"

A blade grazed her cheek, making Kora halt.

"You are starting to give me a headache now. How many times do I have to tell you that she’s not interested? Now get lost."

Rin blinked in shock as he watched Shelly get angry. He wasn’t sure if he was shocked by her anger or at the fact that she had attacked someone outright.

After all, it was not like her to do something like this.

’But looking back at it, Shelly had always been a little protective of me. Maybe this is just her way to show that she cares about her friends.’

After all, it was not as if Shelly ever had friends before, so he had no idea how she behaved if they were in danger. But if he were to go by the original novel, Shelly had shown signs of going too far for those she considered close.

Thinking back on it, Rin could recall her snapping at Albus in the original work as well.

It was when he suggested using the original Rin and making him carry all the guilt for a failed campaign. Shelly had put her foot down and threatened Albus to expose his secrets if he did anything like that.

It was the first and last fight Albus had with her before he decided to do things behind her back. And since he was the protagonist, he was never caught or faced any consequences for his actions.

Still, the conclusion here was that Shelly and Reina were becoming friends, which was a positive development. But why did Rin have a bad feeling about this?