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chapter 28
I snapped back to my senses and told Cal that I was fine, trying to refuse.
But even when I declined, he said nothing and simply kept holding out the blanket.
After a brief struggle, Seirin told me to just accept it. In the end, I reluctantly took it.
Standing there awkwardly with the blanket in my hands, Seirin approached, took it from me, and spread it neatly over what was apparently my sleeping spot.
I crawled into it, lying down with only my head exposed and the blanket pulled up to my chin.
Instead of the beautiful night sky I had been watching through the carriage window these past few days, only the dark tent ceiling filled my vision.
Since magical water bottles existed, I had secretly hoped magical storage bags might exist too.
If they did, we could carry anything conveniently. But I was deeply disappointed to learn that magic had many limitations—apparently, only liquids could be stored.
“So magic isn’t all-powerful after all.”
If there were a bag that could hold everything, we could even pack bedding inside and reduce the bulk of our luggage. It would be so convenient… What a shame.
When I closed my eyes, the quiet was broken only by the faint breathing of our party.
Perhaps because the weather was cool, there weren’t even any insects chirping. I was about to drift off when I heard movement beside me and opened my eyes.
“…Sir Adel?”
“It’s my turn to take first watch tonight. Please lie back down.”
“Oh…”
Night watch. I hadn’t even thought about that.
Had they all been taking turns keeping watch while I slept comfortably?
“I didn’t know…”
“We didn’t mention it. We can manage even if we don’t sleep for a day or two, but that isn’t the case for you, Your Grace. Please go back to sleep.”
“…All right.”
He was right. Even if I insisted on taking watch, they wouldn’t let me. And with my stamina, I would only become a burden.
Even now, my whole body ached and my limbs felt like they weighed a thousand pounds. If I stayed up all night too, tomorrow would be a disaster.
When I obediently nodded, her lips curved into a gentle smile.
After tossing and turning a few times, I must have fallen asleep.
A rustling sound woke me. When I opened my eyes, everyone except me was already up and packing away the bedding.
I rubbed my eyes and pushed myself upright.
“Ugh…”
My whole body was stiff. I’d spent the entire day riding a horse I wasn’t used to, and then slept on the ground…
The saying “life outside the house is hard” was absolutely accurate.
Strangely enough, though, I could move.
“I was worried I wouldn’t even be able to get up, but that was unnecessary.”
I suppose being young helps recovery.
“Your Grace, are you all right? Let me help you up.”
Seirin approached with concern and lightly lifted me to my feet.
“Thank you, Sir Adel.”
“It’s nothing.”
Every time I rode a horse, I felt the same thing—they all lifted me so effortlessly that I felt like a paper doll.
I stepped outside sluggishly and washed my hair to wake myself up.
Because of time constraints, I couldn’t dry it properly and had to leave while it was still damp.
I’d never grown my hair down to my waist before, so I hadn’t realized how long it took to dry. It was incredibly inconvenient.
Still, I figured I might never get to have hair this long again, so I kept it.
As I smoothed my damp hair and approached Arban, he naturally reached out.
He lifted me easily onto the horse. Now somewhat accustomed to it, I leaned back against him, basking in the sunlight.
That was when—
Arban suddenly stopped the horse.
Confused, I turned to look at him. He raised the hand that wasn’t holding me.
Immediately, the knights surrounded our horse and went into a defensive formation.
The atmosphere shifted in an instant.
My relaxed body stiffened.
“W-What is it?”
“Shh. Quiet…”
He whispered so softly I could barely hear him, his sharp eyes fixed somewhere ahead.
I shut my mouth and followed his gaze.
Through the densely packed trees—
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Heavy, rapid footsteps approached, shaking the ground.
Leaves trembled from the vibration.
As I tensed at the approaching presence, Seirin, Rix, and Cal dismounted and drew their swords, staring forward.
Arban pulled the horse back, then swiftly jumped down and extended his arm to me.
Even though I couldn’t see anything yet, the oppressive atmosphere alone froze me in place. Awkwardly, I took his hand and stepped down.
Then—
“Kwoooaaargh!”
A bizarre cry echoed.
I turned instinctively.
“…!”
My eyes widened.
The source of the sound was shocking enough to leave me stunned.
“…What is that?”
Its head resembled a pig.
But the sharp, crocodile-like teeth lining its snout made it clear this was no livestock.
That much, I could have tolerated.
But the moment I saw its eyes, I understood these creatures charging like a herd of enraged bison were monsters.
Their eyes were completely black—no pupil, iris, or sclera. Just darkness.
I couldn’t even tell what they were looking at.
Grotesque.
Covered in tough, reptilian green hide, they weren’t just one or two—there were dozens.
Their hideous forms dealt a severe blow to my sanity.
“I feel like I’m going to throw up.”
Even though they were still some distance away, nausea washed over me. I instinctively stepped back and bumped into Arban behind me.
I didn’t even have time to apologize.
They were charging like mad, shaking the earth.
Every hair on my body stood on end. The blood drained from my head to my toes.
I knew monsters existed here.
But I hadn’t imagined they would look like this.
It was visual assault.
And yet, everyone but me looked calm.
When the monsters finally reached us, the knights began cutting them down one by one.
It happened in an instant.
I couldn’t believe humans could react and move that quickly.
“This doesn’t feel real.”
It wasn’t even a battle.
It was a massacre.
Yet no matter how many the knights cut down, there seemed to be no end.
I stood frozen like a statue.
The stench of blood drifted on the wind. The monsters’ dying cries echoed.
My fingers trembled. My heart pounded violently, yet my body felt cold.
Then, one monster charged straight at me—
But before I could even react, it was split in two at my feet.
Arban, who had cut it down in a single stroke, flicked the blood from his sword and looked at me.
“It would be best to finish quickly and leave this area. I will step away briefly. Please remain here. As long as you don’t leave your position, you won’t be in danger.”
“Wait—!”
He said his piece and immediately left.
Panicked, I reached out to grab him—but he was already out of reach.
In the blink of an eye, his position shifted, and the monsters around him fell without even managing a death cry.
Without realizing it, I shouted his name.
“Arban!!”
The fear of being left alone blanked my mind.
I had called him by name, as I did unconsciously in my thoughts—but I was too close to panic to notice.
“…Your Grace?”
He stopped at my scream and turned.
It looked slow to me. Like slow motion.
Sunlight reflected in his slightly widened eyes, making them appear brighter, almost translucent.
Like rolling waves.
But I didn’t register that at the time.
After scanning the area and clearing the nearby monsters, he immediately returned to my side.
Just having him beside me steadied my heart.
Logically, I knew we weren’t losing.
I knew I wasn’t in danger.
And I knew Arban could end things faster if he stepped in.
“I know. I know, but…”
I couldn’t help it.
This was the first time in my life I had faced a real threat to my life.
The monsters’ mere existence paralyzed my reason.
“I’m sorry. I panicked without thinking. I’m fine now. You can go.”
I tried to sound composed. If I relaxed even a little, my voice would shake and I might cry.
I bit the inside of my cheek.
I hadn’t known I was this much of a coward.
“No. The situation is already under control. It seems I won’t need to step in further. More importantly…”
He stepped closer and gently cupped my face in his hands, lifting it carefully.
“You seem quite shaken. Is there anything I can do for you?”
Our eyes met.
I couldn’t stand seeing my reflection in his eyes—terrified and pitiful—so I squeezed my eyes shut and turned away.
“Just… let me stay like this for a moment. I was the one who insisted on coming, and it’s not like I didn’t know something like this could happen. I’m sorry for showing such a pathetic side…”
With my eyes closed, I didn’t see the emotion reflected in his gaze.
“It was a situation anyone would have been shaken by. It’s my fault for not taking better care.”
“Haha… Then we’re both sorry, so let’s just call it even this once. Next time, I’ll brace myself properly. I promise.”
I gave a weak smile and clasped his hand—still resting against my cheek—with both of mine.
It was warm.
