Chapter 184: The Kingdom's Guard (9)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 184: The Kingdom's Guard (9)
"If you want to save Rainie, follow me!"
Sma hurriedly gave chase, and at the city gates, he found Rainie locked in a desperate struggle.
The ground was littered with the corpses of what appeared to be knights, but Rainie herself looked utterly exhausted. She was drenched in blood from head to toe, and her armor was riddled with cracks.
"Die!"
"Kh...!"
As Senor swung his greatsword, Rainie desperately raised her blade to parry. The blades clashed with a screeching, metallic grind.
"As expected of the Vice-Captain!"
One of the knights originally facing Rainie cheered and moved to strike at her back.
How dare you target my woman?
Infuriated, Sma pushed his Aura to its absolute limit. He didn't care about the consequences. Saving Rainie came first.
In an instant, everything around him began to move in slow motion. The soldiers killing each other, the stone dust falling from the sky, the occasional stray arrow or magic spell—everything slowed down.
The world distorted strangely, like a wet watercolor painting being shaken until the colors bled. It was a space where only Sma moved at a normal speed.
Sma arrived before the knight's sword could reach Rainie.
"When did you—!"
The knight gasped in horror, but Sma didn't have the strength to answer. A terrifying sense of lethargy washed over his entire body. His throat felt parched, and his head spun.
Feeling like he might collapse, he bit his tongue. The metallic taste of blood trickling down his throat finally cleared his head a little.
"Sma!"
Just as she was about to counterattack after barely blocking the knight's strike, Rainie called out to him urgently. Reflexively releasing his Aura, Sma once again felt the world slow down.
Senor, wreathed in a shimmering haze, was feinting an attack on Rainie while thrusting his greatsword toward Sma. While he had moved normally before, Sma was now moving sluggishly as well.
Am I... going to die?
At this rate, he wouldn't be able to block it. But he couldn't die here. There were still so many women left for Sma to claim. There were so many people he had to protect.
Just as he was about to scrape together the very last dregs of his Aura, Rainie threw herself between them. Blood sprayed.
"Master?"
"Cough!"
A long, deep gash was carved from her shoulder down to her ribs. Rainie spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Are you... unhurt...?"
"Master..."
"I've got you now! Just die already!"
Gleeful, Senor swung his greatsword again. The Imperial knights, sensing an opportunity, did the same. Sma grit his teeth, determined to protect Rainie at any cost, when—
A violent gale erupted, blowing back Senor and the other knights. Bucom appeared and barked an order at Sma.
"I'll handle things here for a moment! Take the Vice-Captain to the priests in the rear!"
"Where do you think you're going in the middle of a fight? Your love for your Vice-Captain is quite something."
The Empire's Sword Master appeared to intercept Bucom. Bucom parried his attack while simultaneously unleashing a wave of pressure to keep the other knights at bay.
"Hurry!"
"Yes, sir!"
Sma supported Rainie and retreated from the battlefield. Knights tried to interfere, but Bucom provided cover. The members of the 2nd Knight Order also moved to protect Sma.
"We're counting on you to take care of the Vice-Captain!"
"Don't you dare let her die!"
"...I won't."
Sma grit his teeth. Once they were clear of the immediate fray, he hoisted Rainie onto his back and began to run.
"I'm... sorry..."
"What are you sorry for? You ended up like this because you were protecting me."
"Still... I protected my belly... where the baby is..."
"Good grief."
How can she say that while she's mortally wounded? For some reason, tears welled up in his eyes.
"More importantly... the gate... I'm worried. If we're gone, it will fall..."
"Don't say another word until we see a priest."
Rainie fell silent. Sma could feel the faint, flickering life gasping on his back. Why had the always-powerful Rainie become so weak? She seemed to have even less energy now than when she was whimpering during sex.
It was all because she had been wounded trying to protect him. When they reached the clinic, he saw Elizabeth tending to the wounded.
"This one is beyond saving! Ellet, use Holy Arts over there! You! Conserve your Holy Power! Huh? Sma? Lady Rainie!"
Elizabeth, who had been busy directing the healers, rushed over frantically. Her face turned pale when she saw the near-death Rainie.
"How did this... This is no time for talk. Goddess's Blessing! Restore! Everyone else, help me! She's a High-Rank Aura User! Top priority for treatment!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Several priests gathered and unleashed their Holy Arts, causing Rainie's wounds to knit shut.
"The immediate danger has passed. But the wound was so deep that she'll need to rest for several hours. Especially since it was a wound inflicted by Aura. Holy Arts aren't omnipotent, after all."
"Thank you."
Sma squeezed Elizabeth's hand tightly.
"I've never seen you like this before..."
Elizabeth didn't pull her hand away. While a strange atmosphere settled between them, Rainie called out to Sma.
"Sma..."
"Yes."
"With us gone, the gate will be in peril. I must ask a difficult favor of you."
"Difficult? You saved my life; I'll do anything. I'll give my life to see it done."
"Don't give your life... If it gets dangerous, run away. Even if the outer wall falls, the inner wall of the Royal Palace remains..."
"Are you really joking at a time like this?"
Sma snapped. He wasn't quite sure why he was so angry. Rainie patted him as if she understood everything.
"Please... protect the kingdom..."
"..."
Feeling her warm touch, he realized the source of his anger. The guilt of almost losing his wife due to his own mistake. The feeling of helplessness at not being able to stop Senor. It was a complex mix of emotions that was hard to put into words. Sma gripped the sword hanging at his hip.
"Yes. I'll protect it, no matter what."
"Wait. Let me heal you too!"
Elizabeth showered Sma with Holy Arts. His condition wasn't perfect, but he was mostly recovered. Though his Aura hadn't fully returned, being away from the battlefield had allowed it to refill to about half.
"Well then. I'm off."
"You must come back alive..."
"I have a child on the way; why would I die?"
"You have to return safely, okay?"
Following Rainie, Elizabeth added her own plea. After reassuring them, Sma stepped outside. The clinic where the priests were stationed was a bit of a distance from the walls, and perhaps because of that, he saw several citizens hiding and watching.
Among them were some familiar faces. Sma approached a middle-aged woman.
"Ugh. Sorry 'bout that. I'll stop watchin' and go."
"It's not that."
The woman whose way of speaking changed every time he saw her. The seed merchant who sold Sun Herbs, Mint Choco Pineapple Herbs, and various other garden crops.
What was her name again?
"Auntie, what was your name?"
"Wh-why are you askin'? You gonna send me to jail?"
"I've bought so much from you; why would I send you to jail? If you go to jail, our garden is finished. The Captain would be sad, too."
"Then why?"
"Just because. Please tell me."
The seed merchant answered anxiously.
"It's Okeri."
"Auntie Okeri. I'll remember that."
As he turned to leave, Okeri called out to him.
"Um, the Imperial army's attack..."
"Don't worry. Our soldiers are protecting us."
Sma held his sword up to the sunlight.
"And I'm here, too."
"If our Sma is protecting us, then I can rest easy. But, by any chance, my son..."
"What's your son's name?"
"Jacob."
What a coincidence. The guy who had been constantly raising death flags was Okeri's son.
"I saved him when he was about to die. You'll have to treat me to a meal later."
"Thank you. Thank you so much!"
Okeri wept with joy. Other citizens who had been eavesdropping on their conversation began to creep closer. Sma recognized most of their faces.
The couple who spent their evenings by the fountain. The man who enjoyed his walks. The butcher who sold all kinds of meat. The street vendor who laid out all sorts of wares.
Sma exchanged brief introductions with them as well. Then, he quickened his pace.
"Lord Sma! Please protect our kingdom!"
"Sir Guard! Do your best!"
"Lord Sma!"
"Sir Guard!"
On his way to the wall, he heard the cheers of the citizens. Sma moved forward through the applause and the tearful pleas.
Every one of those people has a name.
They weren't just "Extra A" or "Extra B." They were all people living their lives in this world. It was such an obvious fact, yet he had realized it so late.
It was all because of his prejudice that this was just an eroge world. But it was fine, as long as he realized it now.
Before he knew it, Sma was running. A strange sensation enveloped his entire body.
Dammit.
Why had he become so emotional? Was it because Rainie was hurt? No. It had only been a few months, but he had grown fond of this kingdom.
He rejoined the battlefield. It was a spot slightly away from the main wall, where the three elves were busy slaughtering Imperial soldiers.
"Die, humans!"
"Just die!"
"Humans who can't even live eighty years. Dying early is more efficient."
Sma called out to them, glad to see them.
"Mimiril. Mimirun. Mimiram."
"Human Sma?"
"This is the emotion known as relief."
"H-hmph! It's not like I'm particularly happy to see you're alive!"
Sma helped them finish off the Imperial soldiers. Nearby, not just soldiers but hunters were also working together to face the Empire.
"What's the situation?"
"What? You don't know?"
"I was away for a bit transporting a patient."
"The wall's been breached, and the Imperial army is pouring in. We're blocking them from getting further inside, but since the gate is open, there's no telling when the defensive line will break."
"Got it. I'm glad to see you, but let's talk later."
"Later?"
"When the war is over and we're bragging about our exploits. Got it?"
The elf triplets nodded. Sma passed them by.
"This is a net for capturing Sirens! It's effective against humans, too!"
"This is a perfume that even makes Dryads lose their minds!"
"Hey! That won't work on humans!"
"Huh? Oh. Right."
Seeing the rowdy hunters, he suddenly let out a sigh.
"You monster fuckers."
"Aah! We're sorry!"
"We'll fight hard!"
"Fine. Weren't you with Geum Taeyang?"
"Wasn't he with you, Sir Guard? He was saying something about repaying a debt..."
I saved his life, and now where the hell is he? Sma passed the monster fuckers as well.
"Lady Iruna! Magic!"
"Greystar! Get your head down! Fire Dragon!"
"Rena! Watch your back!"
"You too, Sister Mehya!"
This time, a mix of emotions that was hard to describe welled up—annoyance, anger, worry, and a touch of being moved.
"What are you doing here?"
"O-oh? Hehe. Oppa! Ah! Greystar, look out!"
He wanted to clear out the nearby Imperial soldiers and have a proper talk, but they kept coming in an endless stream. He didn't know why the women he'd told to stay at the mansion were here, but the situation was urgent, so he'd deal with it later.
"You're all in for it later."
"In bed?"
"I mean a real scolding."
"Hmph..."
After giving Iruna a light flick on the forehead, he pressed forward again. He passed fellow guards like Gorubau and Bruce, hunters he'd frequently run into in dungeons, and soldiers he'd become acquainted with over the past few days, until finally, the gate came into view.
The area near the wall was scorched. Bucom and the Imperial Sword Master were nowhere to be seen, likely having moved their duel elsewhere, and the kingdom's knights were fighting with all their might against the Imperial forces swarming the gate.
However, they were being pushed back as the Empire's mages had joined the fray alongside their knights. Sma helped them push back the enemies near the wall.
Taking advantage of a brief lull, he asked a knight he recognized—one of Rainie's disciples who insisted on using formal speech, saying Sma was of higher standing.
"Where did Senor go?"
"That coward lured Captain Bucom and our knights outside the gate! He definitely intends to ambush them with arrows or magic since he can't win with skill!"
No wonder the numbers seemed thin. Sma cut down the Imperial soldiers entering through the gate in a trance-like state. The strange sensation that had begun when he left the clinic and spoke with the people grew more intense.
How many had he cut down? He'd stopped counting after a hundred. The Imperial soldiers, who had been swarming endlessly, began to hesitate.
"A monster... run..."
Those were the last words of an Imperial grunt. Before long, no more Imperial soldiers were coming through the gate. Sma took down two Imperial knights guarding the gate in quick succession and looked outside.
"M-monster."
"We're no match for him..."
The soldiers faltered, hesitating to charge. A commander's voice rose in a scream.
"What are you doing?! He's not even a knight! Look at his clothes! He's just a guard! Charge!"
"He's just one man! An Aura User who isn't even a Sword Master! He must be exhausted, so finish him!"
"Where is the Mage Corps?!"
"They're supporting Lord Senor!"
"Dammit!!"
Where was Senor? He could sense a circle of soldiers gathered not far away. There were too many people to see clearly with his own eyes.
He could only hope the knights were holding out. Sma stood here to fulfill Rainie's request.
No. Even if Rainie hadn't asked, he would have stood here. To protect the women pregnant with his children. To protect the people he'd grown fond of. To protect this capital, the Hugo Kingdom, where he had roamed every corner as a guard.
"I am..."
The strange sensation became vivid. The Aura that hadn't been depleted at all on his way here surged beyond its maximum capacity and spread throughout his body.
The Aura Heart, which had been confined to his chest, spread along the Mana Roads throughout his entire body. Now, Aura Hearts formed not only in his chest but also in his head and lower abdomen.
At the same time, a sensory expansion far more intense than when he first became an Aura User occurred. Realizing the change in less than a second, Sma channeled Aura into his sword.
The sword light, which had extended several meters, began to shrink.
"Look, he's exhausted!"
"Strike!"
The hesitating soldiers began to charge. The Aura had shrunk until it barely covered the blade.
However, unlike the previous translucent white, it was now saturated with solid color. A few commanders who realized this too late screamed out.
"Wait! That's no ordinary Aura Sword! A Sword Master..."
Sma flicked his sword. A crescent of Aura—or in martial arts terms, Sword Force—flew out, erasing the nearby Imperial soldiers and carving the commander into pieces.
"Reinforced Aura..."
"A Sword... Master?"
"There was another Sword Master?"
The commanders were thrown into chaos. The soldiers who had to face him directly were even worse off.
"A Sword Master!"
"How are we supposed to beat a Sword Master?!"
"This is madness!"
Several showed signs of deserting. A commander cut down a fleeing soldier and shrieked in desperation.
"Gah! We just need to kill that one man! If we kill him, we take the kingdom and our Empire wins the war! Charge!"
A knight mixed in with the soldiers took the lead and began to charge. The mages also cast the highest-level spells they could manage, and the archers drew their bows.
Sma took in the entire scene and finished his declaration.
"As long as I stand on these two feet..."
He swung his sword, cleaving through the magic.
"...no one shall pass through this gate."
He didn't dodge the arrows. As he draped Aura over his entire body, the arrows bounced off without causing any harm.
"So, come at me, whoever you are."
He swung his sword, cutting through both the knight's blade and his body simultaneously. A Mid-Rank Aura User fell helplessly, and the High-Rank Aura User who followed didn't last two exchanges before his head was taken.
The commander's shouting stopped. The mages' casting ceased. The horrified soldiers held their breath.
A silence ill-suited for a battlefield descended. The only person making a sound was Sma. He declared calmly:
"I am the guard of this kingdom."