Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 16
Recruiting Talent (5)
The fishy smell of blood. The noise of screaming to save them. And the enemy pointing a sword at me right in front.
Right now, this place was the battlefield.
"..."
Step. Step. I walked towards the opponent in front of me. The blood dripping from the tip of the sword soaked my footprints.
The market street, which was noisy just a moment ago, now only heard the enemies' screams. This place was no longer the stage of a Romance Fantasy. The supporting characters were rolling on the ground, and the extras were terrified. And now, one of the main characters was pointing a sword at me.
What will happen after this battlefield ends.
As expected, the 4th Knight Order will be disbanded. Then will I be accused of treason? Or will the title of Hero be returned and will I be locked in prison?
In the worst case, I might be beheaded right tomorrow.
But why is it.
"Hehehe."
It wasn't particularly bad. Anyway, even though I possessed this world, I was the one rolling on the battlefield every day. I intended to just live roughly like this for this life and go.
"At least you shouldn't have threatened with my people."
Screech. Screeeech. As I dragged the drooping sword on the floor, the tip of the sword split the blood. Leohar in front of me was also pointing his sword at me. There was nothing to hesitate about on this battlefield anymore.
Just as I was about to rush in with the sword.
-Kwaaang!
"Kuk!?"
"...Magic?"
Suddenly, fire magic flew in and blocked the way between Leohar and me. He blocked with his sword and retreated, and I watched that appearance calmly in the smoke.
"Just what are you doing right now!?"
Turning my head, the Royal Guards stood there. Soon the 2nd Knight Order Captain and the 3rd Knight Order Captain were also rushing hurriedly leading their respective units. It seems they ran all the way here hearing the news of this place.
They froze as they were while coming to restrain us.
"Wh-What is this..."
No one could open their mouth at the horrible sight unfolding before their eyes. Not only the Royal Guard Captain but also other Captains had expressions of not understanding the situation, and they were just looking around blankly at the fallen knights.
"Ca-Captain Leohar! Just what is happening?"
"..."
"Why are all your knights fallen like that. Don't tell me the 4th Knight Order attacked in a group!?"
The 2nd Knight Order Captain ran and asked, but he didn't answer. No, he can't answer. Because he couldn't possibly say they were defeated by one person.
At his appearance, the Captains felt frustrated and looked towards me.
"Captain Carmil. Just what is this situation? Why are the 1st Knight Order members fallen so miserably like that."
I was the one receiving the question, but hearing those words, Leohar's sword trembled. Is that silent anger? Or endless shame?
Instead of answering, I closed my eyes silently and thought.
...Now. Then what should I do.
The knights here right now are seventy in total. Among them, ten cavalry. Seven mages. Thirteen archers. Plus the Royal Guard Captain and other Captains, four in total.
Can I really handle all of them? I pictured the battlefield in my head for a moment. I was out of breath and a bit tired from the battle just now, but there was no problem continuing the battle.
Of course, unlike the 1st Knight Order, there was no reason to cut them. But if they stand on Leohar's side and attack me even after hearing the circumstances...
"..."
I gently gripped the dagger hidden inside my sleeve. I immediately checked the movements of those pointing swords at me.
If they attack first, first of all, from the magic unit at the very back...
"Wait a minute!"
At that time, someone grabbed my arm. Turning my head, Yuria was looking at me and shaking her head.
"Yuria?"
"Stop for now. Beyond this is dangerous."
"..."
"I ask you like this."
It was an expressionless face as usual, but I could know her earnestness.
Eventually, I put the dagger inside my sleeve and nodded.
"Right. If it can be solved by conversation, that would be the best."
"Yeah. Thanks."
Only then did she stand next to me with a relieved expression. Seeing her like that, the Royal Guard Captain blinked his eyes.
"Yu, Lady Yuria?"
"Yeah."
As everyone recognized her, she stepped forward confidently. Thanks to that, people paid more attention to her than the knights fallen around.
"What brings the Grand Duchess to a place like this..."
"I'm on the way back from subjugating monsters in the underground sewer. Now is snack time."
Saying that, snacks were sticking out plenty from her pocket. Even two balloons were floating in one hand. Thanks to that, the knights who were on edge also looked a bit relaxed.
However, the Royal Guard Captain still made an expression that he couldn't accept.
"I don't understand. How could the Grand Duchess do such dirty work? Where are the other delegation members."
"It's fine. I didn't do it alone."
Saying that, she pulled my sleeve.
"I did it together with Captain Carmil here."
"...Pardon?"
Everyone looked with eyes saying they couldn't understand. Unlike me, who defeated all the knights and was covered in blood, her pure white appearance was purity itself. Since such a person said she did it with me, everyone couldn't accept that disparity.
However, whether they did or not, she continued what she had to say.
"Therefore, I saw. The appearance of the 1st Knight Order requesting a duel from Captain Carmil. Captain Carmil just accepted it, and this scene right now is just the result. Of course, the conversations they shared were all acting to heighten the situation."
"Lady Yuria! Just what nonsense are you talking about!?"
At that time, Leohar shouted and stepped forward. But the moment their eyes met, he couldn't continue speaking.
"Why are you like that? Don't tell me my words are wrong?"
"That is of course...!"
"Don't tell me you want to say that our Captain Leohar, despite all members of the Kingdom's best 1st Knight Order attacking with full force, couldn't beat just one person and are fallen miserably like this? Since Captain Leohar kept just watching his subordinates getting beaten, I naturally thought it was practice sparring."
"K-Kuk!"
Grind- The sound of Leohar's teeth grinding was heard up to here. Even seeing him like that, Yuria tilted her head innocently.
"Oh my, oh my my. Did I perhaps know wrongly?"
"...No. As Lady Yuria said, practice sparring is... correct."
Eventually, he had no choice but to admit it while clenching his two fists tightly. Well, if he doesn't admit it even after hearing those words here, the honor of the 1st Knight Order and himself will be hugely diminished.
Originally, Leohar's intention must have been to suppress me nicely using his subordinates. But since that failed, admitting that would be the best way to handle this situation.
Above all, he has been conscious of Yuria since a while ago, and it was visible even to my eyes. Seeing that, it seems he is aiming for at least the seat next to the Grand Duchess.
He approached other knights and bowed his head.
"...I am sorry for causing a disturbance. It was just practice sparring, so you don't need to mind."
"I-Is that really true? Everyone is bleeding like that..."
"Phew. I just asked the 4th Knight Order Captain to deal with us like in actual combat."
Hearing those words, the Royal Guard Captain was horrified.
"No. What kind of sparring do you do so brutally. And in a marketplace like this. Do you know how anxious the citizens were?"
"Who can stop the competitive spirit of my subordinates. I will be careful in the future, so please understand just this once."
Since the 1st Knight Order Captain said so, eventually the Royal Guard Captain and other Captains had no choice but to let it pass.
"Haa. Understood. Instead, please do not do this from next time. If you do sparring twice, you'll kill a person."
The Royal Guard Captain sighed and sheathed his sword. Other knights also lowered their weapons, and only then did the hiding citizens come out with relief.
"What. So it was practice sparring. It was so brutal I thought it was real."
"Tell me about it. What kind of sparring do they do in a place like this? Well, it was good to see knights fighting right in front of our eyes though."
Fortunately, other citizens also let it pass thinking it was just that. Especially, since they usually have to pay money to see such duels in the arena, some citizens rather liked seeing a much higher level battle for free.
Some were still unable to calm their excitement and were evaluating the battle just now.
"By the way, Captain Carmil is also amazing. Even if it's practice sparring, in the end, he won all alone."
"Wh-What are you saying! Didn't you hear it was practice sparring just now? Of course, the 1st Knight Order went easy on him!"
Someone shouted flustered in the crowd, but no one nodded at those words.
"Eey. If you argue like that, Captain Carmil is the same. Don't tell me he fought seriously against members?"
"Hu, huhu. That is well, somehow Captain Carmil must have been lucky. Isn't that right? Everyone!"
"Tsk. Come to think of it, maybe the 1st Knight Order was weaker than we thought? Thinking about it, no one saw them fighting properly either. We only heard the reputation."
"Tell me about it. I respected them immensely until now, but how should I put it, somewhat disappointing."
"E-Everyone wait a moment! That is not important. What is important right now is the fact that Captain Carmil attacked the 1st Knight Order..."
"Eey. So we were told it was practice sparring. Just what have you been listening to until now?"
"Th-That is, so..."
The faction hiding among the crowd tried to create an atmosphere, but it didn't seem to go as intended. Rather, thanks to the overwhelming martial valor shown just now, the evaluation of me and Leohar was overturned.
In that situation, the Royal Guard Captain handling the chaos approached our side. He showed courtesy to us and spoke carefully.
"Captain Carmil. No matter how much it is practice sparring, please refrain from using the sword during house arrest."
"Right. I will."
"Grand Duchess also, please do not go to places like underground sewers in the future. If you really have to go, please at least tell us."
"Yeah. I will."
"Yes. Please."
Speaking like that, his gaze suddenly turned to me. His head looking at me and her tilted slightly.
"By the way, why is the Grand Duchess together with Captain Carmil?"
"Huh? That's because I am Captain Carmil's person."
"...?"
Everyone there blinked their eyes. Knights handling the situation, citizens having heated discussions, all stopped what they were doing and looked at us.
Captain Leohar nearby barely opened his mouth and asked.
"La, Lady Yuria? Wh-What did you say just now..."
"I asked him. That I want to become Captain Carmil's person."
Everyone couldn't say anything at her words.
"...Ha."
Especially Leohar had an expression of being hit on the back of his head. Well, he just handled this situation to look good to her, but knowing she declared she is on my side, his mood must be ruined.
But is there a need to bring up this story right now. When I looked at her, she whispered so only I could hear.
"You see. You still have something to pay back to that person called Leohar, right?"
"Ah. So."
"Don't worry. I will help you."
She said that and made a meaningful expression. Seeing us like that, the Royal Guard Captain scratched his head.
"Well. For now, since we have to handle the situation here too, we will go first. Grand Duchess also please return not too late."
"Yeah. Got it."
The knights immediately loaded the patients and moved to the cathedral. Leohar also glared, but soon sheathed his sword and returned.
Like that, the situation was settled.
"...Phew."
I sheathed the sword feeling the afterglow of the battle. In my hand, she put a balloon and a snack.
"You worked hard. Receive this and cheer up."
"Thanks. I'll eat well."
She shook the balloon and ate a snack on the spot. As if she liked it, she peeled two more and mumbled in her mouth.
And looked up at me with a satisfied expression.
"Then I will go first. If too late, Barg will get angry."
Before I knew it, the moon rose in the sky.
Ignoring the surrounding gazes, I asked her.
"Yuria. What did you mean by helping me earlier?"
"That is, you see. Try going to any tavern tomorrow."
"Hmm?"
"Then you will know what my words mean."
She said that and left trot-trot. The appearance of running holding a balloon was undeniably a child.
Looking at her back, I picked up one snack she gave.
"...Too sweet?"
Thanks to that sweetness, the smell of blood soaked in the street was erased for a moment.
Moonlight filled the place where the sunset set, and the night sky was cleaner and clearer than ever. Under the night sea without a single dark cloud, Yuria stood next to Barg hiding on the roof.
"Stalker discovered."
"Then please at least say a word before going out. Do you know how flustered we were in the morning?"
"But I left a note though?"
"You left a note indeed. From next time, please also write where you are going."
'I'll go play for a moment.' Recalling when he saw this note as soon as he woke up in the morning, he felt dizzy even now.
"Sorry..."
She bowed her head deeply reflecting.
Having nothing more to say at that appearance, Barg cleared his throat and pointed at Carmil still remaining on the market street.
"Ahem. Is that person the one you kept an eye on."
"Yeah. Correct."
She puffed out her chest looking at Carmil.
"How is it, amazing right?"
"Why are you proud, Milady..."
Looking at her dumbfounded, he recalled the things that happened a while ago and asked her.
"But you see. To take him as our person, wouldn't it have been better to just let them fight more earlier."
"I know too."
If his reputation becomes the worst, it would be hard to stay here more, so taking him would have become much easier.
Yet her body moved first. She grabbed his wrist unknowingly as he was heading towards ruin.
Leaving aside other things, she didn't want to see him being pointed fingers at by others.
She tried hard to make an excuse for that feeling.
"I don't know. I just disliked it."
"Yes?"
"More than that, how is it? When Barg saw."
At Yuria's question, he answered recalling the battle that happened a while ago.
"Well. He is indeed a Hero. Dealing with 50 knights at the same time. At least for me, it would be impossible."
"Yeah. It would be hard for me too."
"However..."
He blurred the end of his sentence and continued speaking carefully soon.
"It's because the scene shown was so shocking. Thinking about it, other Heroes would also be able to do that much."
"Yeah."
"Being so, as expected, I get the thought that the Kingdom's Best Sword is stronger."
"..."
Stare- She gazed at him intently.
"Isn't it because Barg lost?"
"N-No it's not!"
Barg denying desperately at her bullseye. However, there was one thing he was missing.
On the battlefield, holding back is several times harder than killing the enemy. Especially, even more so in a chaotic battle.
Yet there was not a single person who died by Carmil's hand this time. How many Heroes could there be where such a thing is possible.
Realizing that, her heart beat on its own.
"Yeah. I wish tomorrow comes quickly."
"Yes?"
Instead of answering, Yuria looked up at the moonlight and giggled. At her smile he saw for the first time, Barg doubted his eyes.