Chapter 53
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: The Clock Tower Rescue
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*Bang—!*
A gunshot rang out from the building where Ethan had disappeared.
Fortunately, there weren't many monsters nearby, and the ones that were seemed distracted, so they didn't swarm us this time.
I let out a sigh of relief and looked back toward the clock tower. A considerable number of monsters had gathered around it. If Ethan didn't draw their attention elsewhere, there was no way I could even get close.
I tilted my head up and looked at the top of the clock tower again.
*Knox really has to be up there.*
As I gazed up, I caught a glimpse of what looked like the hem of a garment brushing against the railing at the top.
*Something definitely moved.*
While waiting for Ethan's signal, I looked over at the roof of the adjacent building. I could see Ethan, lying prone in position on the rooftop.
*I really need to learn how to use a gun. This is ridiculous. I'm stuck being the tank because all I can do is swing an axe!*
Lying flat, Ethan aimed his gun toward the clock tower's entrance and glanced down at me. Our eyes met. There was some distance between us, but the daylight made it easy to see him clearly. He extended two fingers, aimed forward, and mimed shooting a gun.
Taking that as the signal to attack, I gripped my axe and sprinted for the clock tower.
Just as I knocked back two charging monsters with my axe and opened the clock tower door…
*Bang—!*
A gunshot echoed. The monster that had rushed up behind me fell, shot by Ethan. I glanced back at Ethan before shutting the clock tower door.
The inside of the clock tower was silent. A spiral staircase seemed to lead all the way to the top, so I took the steps two and three at a time.
I prayed that Knox Cornell Ludpersher would be at the end of this climb.
At the top, which I reached so quickly I was out of breath, Knox was there, just as I had hoped. His legs were covered in blood.
Messy silver hair, a disheveled doctor's coat. Knox, slumped down with his bloodied legs, stared at me with a surprised expression.
“…Cherry Sinclair?”
I panted, wiping the sweat that had beaded on my chin.
“What are you doing here?”
To my surprise, Knox had a cigarette dangling from his lips, his eyes languid and unfocused. Anyone would think he was on drugs.
*Hoo.* He exhaled a cloud of smoke. Then, with a shrug, he answered in his characteristically relaxed and calm tone.
“Just resting. I didn’t expect you to be here, Lady Sinclair. Weren’t you in a safe place? How did you get here?”
As he asked, Knox even had the leisure to lean against the railing and gaze outside.
*Is he talking about Happy House when he says ‘a safe place’?*
“I don’t know how you ended up down here, but after you all scrambled to save your own skins, this is perfect. You get to spend your final moments with me. How unfortunate.”
Knox took another deep drag from his cigarette and blew out the smoke. His eyes were filled with negativity as he looked at me.
*Final moments, my ass.*
“What are you talking about?”
Unable to understand him, I frowned and asked again. But I gave up on getting an immediate answer and urged him on.
“We don’t have time for a long chat. Get up, quickly…”
We needed to get down the clock tower in a hurry, so I offered Knox my hand. As I did, my gaze was naturally drawn to his right thigh.
I’d seen it before, but the wound looked truly severe. His right thigh was a mess. It was covered in blood and his pants were torn to shreds, making it impossible to tell if he’d been bitten by a monster or something else.
“Were you bitten?”
At my question, Knox raised an eyebrow, the cigarette still in his mouth. He looked as if he couldn’t comprehend my question.
“Bitten?”
“Did those damn monsters bite you?”
We were short on time, but confirming this was crucial. Even if Knox was one of the male leads, if he’d been bitten by a monster, I couldn’t save him.
My harsh language seemed to startle Knox, whose eyes widened. Then he suddenly burst out laughing.
“Are you really the Cherry Sinclair I know?”
“That’s not important right now. Answer me. We’re out of time.”
“I wasn’t bitten. I was impaled on the end of a broken railing on my way up here.”
“Then that’s fine. Can you stand?”
“No. I can’t use my leg. Even if I get down, I won’t be able to escape those monsters.”
“It’s fine. I’ll carry you. As long as you weren’t bitten, that’s all that matters. That’s enough.”
“What? H-Hold on…!”
Ignoring his reply, I heaved him onto my back. He was so tall that his legs seemed to drag a little on the floor, but that wasn’t a major issue.
“Wh-What is this…! Hey! Wait!”
“Quiet down. Here, hold this.”
I placed the axe and the empty bag in Knox’s hands, then readjusted him on my back and started down the stairs.
“Cherry Sinclair!”
“Damn it! Be quiet!”
After making a fuss for a while, Knox finally shut his mouth at my curse.
Yes, I know. An ordinary woman wouldn’t have been able to lift Knox at all.
But I’m not an ordinary woman, and I possess more than enough monstrous strength to carry him like a sack of luggage.
Still, carrying a man who couldn’t even use his legs down a flight of stairs was definitely a difficult task.
“…What are you?”
Knox asked quietly as he was carried down on my back. Of course, I didn’t answer.
When we reached the first floor, I grabbed the doorknob and spoke to Knox.
“If a monster attacks, swing the axe. I don’t have free hands right now.”
“…What?”
“Don’t make me say it twice. Not unless you want to be left behind. I’m pretty exhausted right now.”
“Left behind? Are you saying that to me?”
“Shit.”
“You have a short temper. Don’t curse. And don’t leave me behind. I’m good at swinging things.”
Hearing my blatant profanity, Knox immediately changed his tune and swung the axe nonchalantly. While on my back, I mean.
Then he suddenly burst into laughter. I could feel his body trembling slightly against my back.
“For a dream before dying, this is too vivid. There’s no way Miss Cherry would come all this way to save me. And on top of that, she’s even carrying me?”
As I held the doorknob on the first floor, taking a deep breath, I heard Knox muttering behind me.
I was a little dumbfounded, so I let go of the doorknob and set him down on the stairs. He sat on the steps, looking up at me quizzically.
“This isn’t a dream. And yes, I came to rescue you, Mr. Ludpersher. Why would you think I wouldn’t save you?”
“Well… Isn’t that why you threw the stones? I saw you throwing them from the mansion into the town. You used the town as bait just to save yourselves.”
*Seriously? How could he misunderstand things so completely?* I stifled a humorless laugh and sighed.
“Those stones? I threw them to save you.”
“An excuse now…”
“You were trapped in the square back then. I threw the stones to the opposite side to clear a path in the direction you were heading, Mr. Ludpersher.”
Knox’s pupils dilated. He opened and closed his mouth like a fish.
“Then…”
“So I saved you then, and I came to save you again, and this is the treatment I get? Ha, damn. I shouldn’t have bothered. I should’ve just left you behind. What a damn pain this is.”
“W-Wait a minute…!”
As I turned my back on Knox and grabbed the doorknob again, he hastily called out to me.
“Oh, I seem to have misunderstood. Miss Cherry, I’m sorry.”
His apology was quick. Just like Ethan, it seems people around here are pretty quick to admit when they’re wrong. Though, it also seemed like he was just afraid I’d really leave him behind.
“I’m not apologizing because I’m afraid you’ll leave me here, Miss Cherry. I’m not that ill-mannered.”
Knox immediately added, as if he had read my mind.
“Thank you. For saving me.”
Hearing Knox’s apology, I rubbed my brow wearily before asking him.
“So, can we go now?”
He nodded obediently, so I hoisted him onto my back again. Then I slowly turned the doorknob.
Thankfully, the area in front of the clock tower was quiet.
I could see a horde of monsters gathered in the distant square, but luckily, they didn’t seem interested in our direction.
I looked up at the roof of the building where Ethan was supposed to be. But there was no one there.
“Where did he go? Sir Ethan and I were supposed to meet in front of the clock tower.”
“Lancaster came with you?”
“Did you think I came here all by myself?”
“Why are you so prickly?”
“…Look at the situation we’re in. Do you blame me?”
*My, my, Miss Cherry. I didn’t realize you were so terrifying.*
I ignored Knox’s subsequent quiet mutter and scanned our surroundings. Ethan was still nowhere to be seen.
*Is he on his way to the clock tower?* But there was no sign of Ethan near the clock tower. And instead of Ethan, the virus monsters started to approach.
“Hey, Miss Cherry. This is no time to be standing around. I think we need to move.”
Knox, still on my back, said as he tightened his grip on the axe.
With Knox on my back, I started to run.