Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Do You Know Why I'm Strong? Because I Deserted! (3)
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Bayard turned ferocious the moment she entered combat.
Word was, it wasn't a trait of the bear tribe as a whole. It was something unique to Bayard herself. In exchange for losing her reason, her physical abilities surged to unimaginable levels.
But no matter how far gone she was, Bayard had never once attacked an ally. Until right now, when she finally turned on one of her own.
Bayard's savage roar made Ruby's legs lock up. She knew Bayard's strength all too well—it terrified her to her core. Her body had frozen in instinctive fear.
And who could blame her?
Imagine a bear suddenly appearing right in front of you. Not just any bear, but one from the bear tribe that could chew through a squad of average knights without breaking a sweat. Anyone would freeze.
Anyone but one. The captain didn't hesitate. He charged forward and intercepted Bayard. She'd lost all reason and swung at him immediately.
The captain's sword strikes weren't sharp or refined by any stretch.
They were crude, like something you'd see from a common guard. But with that crudeness, he was holding his own against Bayard. How many in the squad could even do that?
The captain had some confidence in a straight-up fight, but even he figured he could last maybe five minutes against Bayard head-on. And he'd never felt humiliated by that fact.
On the contrary, it was something to brag about—holding out for a full five minutes against that Bayard. But here was a mere human matching her blow for blow.
What if she jumped in?
It wouldn't help the captain. It would just get in his way. Ruby never overestimated herself. Instead, she held her ground. She watched the entire fight unfold with her own eyes.
Of course she was frustrated. It was a lie to say otherwise.
Those crude sword swings held no pinnacle techniques. Just that alone let him fight Bayard evenly. Ruby envied the captain's strength, which surpassed any human limits.
I want to be that strong, too.
Stronger than anyone, so I can beat that trash.
With those thoughts burning in her heart, the dwarf girl took it all in.
Like sharpening a sword against a whetstone.
Save me.
Goddamn it, please save me.
Hey. Can't you hear me?
It wasn't a joke anymore—I was seriously going insane. My vision kept flickering gray and back, hurting my eyes. It felt like staring straight into TV static.
But the real problem was my stamina hitting its limit. Time stop aside, dodging or blocking Bayard's relentless attacks was draining me dry.
Thankfully, I was using time stop in short bursts, so it wasn't too bad. But just clashing with Bayard like this had me on the verge of collapse.
I glanced sideways. Our dwarf girl was watching from a safe distance. Come on, at least backstab her if you're gonna hang back like that.
And none of my attacks were landing on Bayard. If we were talking rock-paper-scissors, it was like I peeked at her hand first, picked the counter... only for her to read my reaction speed and switch on the fly.
Then I'd time stop, switch again, and she'd switch right back the moment color returned.
"Kugh?!"
Bayard's kick slammed into my side. I twisted at the last second, or my guts would've burst. I leaped back fast.
No kidding. It really felt like fighting a bear. Those movements were blindingly fast and agile. Who the hell called bears dumb? Say that to my face, and I'll rip your limbs off.
Bayard charged like an apex predator, brimming with overwhelming presence. My depleted stamina made reacting a nightmare. Swinging my sword at all was my limit.
Bayard, meanwhile, showed no signs of tiring. Makes sense—a beast cub outlasting a human? What now? I racked my brain desperately.
[Fascinating. Even without reason, she won't attack allies.]
[Captain Yuren said it's not total loss of reason. More like her intelligence drops to beast level.]
[True... Even beasts don't touch their pack or kin.]
Straight fight was hopeless. If she were an enemy, fine. But she's an ally I need to calm or subdue. Subduing her? Her physical prowess is insane.
Can't break limbs—that'd sap her strength or leave aftereffects. Joint lock? On a bear? I'd probably get overpowered. I sighed.
No choice. It's a gamble, but... I exhaled heavily and looked up. Bayard was barreling toward me. I let my sword drop to my side.
"Captain?!"
Ruby's shocked cry came from behind. As expected, Bayard charged with everything she had. It felt like a truck hurtling at me.
Colliding like that would shred my bones from flesh. So I pulled a little trick. My middle and index fingers brushed, and the world turned gray.
Time and stamina—both running critically low. I dashed at Bayard, grabbed her charging body, shook it to throw off her balance.
"Good, now..."
With my current strength, suppressing Bayard unharmed was impossible no matter what. Time for a different approach. Just like this.
The gray world returned to color. I'd already relaxed my grip ahead of time, and her disrupted stance made blocking her charge easier than expected.
The issue came next. Stopping her momentum didn't erase her monstrous power. So as she closed in, I wrapped her in the tightest hug I could manage.
"It's okay. You're safe now."
"Graaaargh!"
"No more enemies to torment you."
I'd read once that dogs bark first when scared. I knew Bayard's situation, too—how she went feral like a beast.
Putting it together, one conclusion. Bayard never attacks allies, yet she couldn't even recognize me or Ruby? Fear had to be it.
Those hellish sights still haunted her. She'd even deserted from sheer terror. Deserters usually flee home and hide.
Not Bayard. She holed up in a church near Lionheart Fortress. Why? Capture meant possible execution under military law.
Putting it all together: She still had lingering attachments. Revenge for her comrades, or something else. I was betting on that.
"Grrrrr...!!"
Wait, hold on. Did I misjudge? A beastly growl rumbled from my arms. Then teeth sank into my shoulder! Pain tore through as blood flowed.
Should I pull back? But no—I changed my mind. If she saw me as an enemy, I'd be shredded instantly.
I'm still fine. Standing, even talking casually. That means my approach was working, at least somewhat.
"I can't know what you saw there."
"......"
"But I can take all those feelings. Let it out. Cry it all."
No sooner had I spoken than her clawed hand stabbed into my back like spikes. Wait, hold up! Time, please—not yet! I'm really dying from the pain!!
"Captain, you can let go now."
"Huh?"
"She's asleep already."
"...I see."
Bayard had stopped rampaging. She slept peacefully in my arms. But those claws were still embedded in my back. I clicked my tongue.
Anyway, crisis averted. No damage to her strength. Unconscious, I had every justification to drag her back to Lionheart Fortress.
Before, it'd felt borderline forced. I carefully moved her arm. The claws dragged out, raking a long gash down my back.
"That said, I saw the captain in a new light this time."
"......"
"Thought you were all talk. Didn't expect you'd actually take wounds to protect her."
It wasn't protection.
No other option worked, that's all.
But I won't say that.
You, just watching from back there? I saw it all.
Get ready. You'll pay this debt someday.