Chapter 22
The Male Lead Went Crazy for the Troublesome Villainess — Episode 22
I could see Kael's eyes waver, just slightly.
What, was he touched? He had every reason to be. This was a world where even family abandoned one another and ran. Seriously, Rosana. That was pretty romantic of you.
The monsters were closing in. Kael, who had locked eyes with me one last time, gave a hand signal.
At the same moment, the knights waiting in the trees threw themselves down.
I did the same.
I opened my eyes wide, feeling the fierce wind raking across my cheek and the rank smell stinging my nose. I will not lose.
I tightened my grip on the dagger. The instant I landed on a fast-moving monster, I pulled myself upright. I had to do my part.
That was the only way to lighten the other knights' burden. And the only way to save even one more person.
"Hup!"
I clung to the spider's enormous body and climbed, bracing myself with every muscle I had.
"SKREEEE!"
The giant monster's shriek savagely shook the forest. The quicker knights had already regained their footing and, keeping their balance, were swinging their swords to crack the ground spider's head. I was late!
I put as much strength into my arms as I could and held on.
"Hoo. You can do this, Rosana."
Just as I was using every muscle in my body to climb onto the spider—
"Take my hand."
A hand was extended toward me. I raised my head and saw Kael standing with the moonlight at his back. Even on a running monster, his posture did not waver in the slightest. He was reaching out to me as if he had always been there.
For an instant, a deep sense of relief washed over me.
I took Kael's large hand.
If it had been my original body, I would have done better than this. I could have been useful to Kael too. All that regret threatened to swallow me whole. With Kael's help, I climbed onto the monster.
"This is your first time fighting a monster, isn't it?"
Amid the monster's stench, I caught Kael's scent. He stood behind me and pulled my body firmly into his arms.
"The first time always matters. Watch closely, Rosana. Every monster has a weak point. Once you identify it, they're much easier to deal with."
On the swaying monster, I held on by leaning against Kael. He closed his hand over mine where I gripped the dagger.
"Now!"
Kael moved my body as if it were his own and drove the dagger into the ground spider's head.
Rumble...
The monster that had been charging forward just moments ago toppled over. Kael rolled across the ground with me still in his arms. Inside his embrace, I slowly steadied my breathing.
How had he just done that? A spot in that hard carapace had been as soft as tofu. Was there really a place like that? How did you find it?
"The highest point, the most hidden point, the inside of the mouth, or another vital spot."
Kael quietly pointed out the weak points as he pulled me to my feet. Supporting me under the arms, he lightly set me upright, then pressed the dagger back into my hand. His touch was steady. Kael adjusted his grip on his own sword and smiled faintly.
"You said you would guard my back. So just watch my back and follow me, Rosana."
At those words, my chest tightened strangely. The thought that I only had to follow behind him made me feel oddly at ease.
All the tension melted away.
It felt as though something that had been binding me was disappearing.
After making sure I had a proper grip on my sword, Kael turned away, as if relieved. He always seemed like he would be standing in front of me. I felt certain that Kael would keep moving forward without stopping.
Kael launched himself at an oncoming ground spider. His body rose into the air and landed on the giant spider's head. With a shrill screech, the monster toppled. Kael landed lightly and pulled his sword from the creature's vital spot. I saw it clearly.
What Kael had shown me.
I gripped my sword.
Now it was my turn.
SKREEEE!
They kept swarming without pause. The time had come for me to do my part too.
A spider charged at me with its venomous stinger raised. I twisted my body to the side to dodge and swung my dagger at the same time. Black blood splattered onto my face, but I had no time to care.
A second and third spider attacked in succession. I moved as if dancing. I rolled right, leaped left, and threw my dagger. Every movement I had practiced in Rainford flowed out naturally.
I also made use of what Seraphine had taught me.
'You still seem more comfortable using a dagger, my lady. You must also think about your next move for throwing and recovering the dagger.'
Just as Seraphine had taught me, I moved while recovering my daggers at the right moments. A fourth spider leaped down from a tree and lunged at me. I dropped low in an instant and rolled underneath it. The spider's leg stabbed into the spot where I had just been standing. That nearly put a hole through my head. It was close.
"Hup!"
I gasped for breath and pushed myself up. As Seraphine had taught me, I lowered my center of gravity and fixed my gaze on the opponent's leg joints. There was always a soft spot between the joints.
I reversed my grip on the dagger and slipped between the legs of the charging spider. Then I drove it with all my strength into the tender part beneath its belly.
SKREECH!
The spider thrashed and collapsed.
Before I could even catch my breath, another spider lunged. This time my body moved first. The instincts ingrained in me from my previous life and the muscles I had built over the past few weeks moved together.
A scream rang out from a distance.
"Aah!"
I turned my head and saw Seraphine surrounded by two spiders. Blood was running from Seraphine's head. She must have been wounded by that last blow.
Spiders that size would be too much for even an excellent knight to handle alone.
Seraphine had not awakened yet. That would happen later.
"Seraphine, duck!"
There was no time to hesitate. I picked the heaviest of my remaining daggers and threw it with all my strength.
Fortunately, the dagger pierced exactly through one spider's eye. As the spider lost its balance and toppled sideways, Seraphine did not miss the opening and slashed the other one's vital spot.
"Thank you, my lady!"
Seraphine shouted, gasping for breath. I turned and ran forward again.
My body felt light enough to fly.
My arms were trembling, but I couldn't stop. No, I couldn't let myself stop. The moment I did, not just me but everyone behind me would be hurt.
I could see Kael up ahead. He too was advancing without pause. I drove a dagger into the crown of a creature aiming for Kael's back, then recovered the blade. Seraphine had already come up beside me. Her dazzling muscles gleamed under the moonlight.
Even the motion of Seraphine drawing her sword was elegant.
Ha, impressive. I used to have muscles like that too. It was another moment when I missed my old body.
"Are you all right, my lady?"
"......Yes, I'm fine, Seraphine."
I stared at her, admiring Seraphine's powerful movements.
"You really are strong, Seraphine."
At that, Seraphine blushed slightly. She pulled me forcefully to her side and spoke.
"Stay close to me. I will make sure you are not seriously hurt."
Seraphine's solid muscles made those words convincing. That was when I made up my mind.
That I should build more muscle too.
Solid muscles really did make a person convincing. Of course a promise to protect someone sounded cool when it came from someone built like that.