MLCTV CH 05

Chapter 5

Even so, Kael was moving forward, believing in the hope that could bloom in the middle of despair.

And then Rosana appeared.

As she spoke those words, Rosana was creating hope with her own hands and keeping its flame alive. Wasn’t it because of her that the training of the non-combat personnel had begun in the first place?

The knights watched their transformation and slowly regained their confidence and hope.

‘Perhaps we really can succeed. It seems more people might be able to fight, Your Highness.’

‘If we exclude the young children, most of them have picked up swords and bows.’

‘More and more people want to learn how to use a sword.’

It had only been three days, yet so much had changed.

They had seen Vanessa, whom Rosana had transformed.

Vanessa could now run fairly well compared to the others, and she had even become the first person to pick up a bow.

They had also seen Rosana, despite being a noble lady, throw away all the unnecessary formalities and run alongside everyone else.

Rosana was none other than the daughter of the Duke of Ardeena.

It was only natural that one person after another would be inspired by her taking the initiative.

Rosana was almost like the queen bee ruling over high society.

Without even realizing it, people were following in Rosana’s footsteps.

Those who had previously done nothing but complain while being dragged along were now voluntarily waking up in the morning to run and participate in training.

Did Rosana even realize what she had done?

“This is ridiculous…”

Kael rubbed his face again.

Rosana had told him that he was hope.

That she believed in him.

That as long as he existed, there was hope.

He hadn’t been able to say anything in response to that bright smile.

But the true hope was blooming from Rosana’s fingertips.

Kael stared at Rosana’s hair, tied high and swaying lightly as she moved.

He looked at the rough, practical clothes she wore underneath her loose shirt, designed for ease of movement, and at the daggers hanging from her waist.

He also noticed the mercenary boots she was wearing.

Kael slowly blinked.

It was strange.

Compared to before, her clothes were plain and ordinary.

There were no jewels.

There was no dazzling silk.

And yet Rosana was shining all on her own.

Kael let out a hollow laugh.

As if bewitched by that light, he followed behind Rosana.

And he admitted it.

The Rosana he had known might not have been her true self.

Perhaps the person she was showing now was who she truly was.

The curtain that had hidden her had been drawn back.

Strangely enough, Kael even found himself looking forward to seeing what else Rosana would show him.

After successfully securing their supplies, the expedition was able to spend a somewhat more peaceful time in Willow.

At the same time as they organized the supplies, they also began distributing weapons to the non-combat personnel.

Kael had heard that they would stay here for another two days to continue training.

But complaints could sprout anywhere.

It was late at night.

“Is everyone here?”

“Yes.”

And whenever something like this happened, there was always a mouse around to eavesdrop.

Today, that mouse was me.

What the hell were they talking about?

I had been out for a walk because I couldn’t sleep.

I pricked up my ears and hid myself.

I carefully glanced at the man’s face, which was revealed by the moonlight.

Oh, that guy?

He was the idiot who had asked for a knight to protect him instead when Seraphine had previously offered to train him.

There were four shadows gathered together in total.

“Viscount Brennan, is it really all right for us to do this?”

Someone asked in a nervous voice.

So that guy was Viscount Brennan.

No wonder he had been acting so arrogant. The head of his family had personally come along.

So, what were they planning to do?

“This isn’t the time to worry about whether we should or shouldn’t. They’re dragging us along to become monster food. Are you just going to sit back and die? Those bastards clearly intend to use us as shields. Otherwise, there’s no reason they wouldn’t give us even a single escort.”

“We can’t just die like this.”

“That’s why tonight is our last chance. Tomorrow, we’ll leave Willow, and soon after that, we’ll reach Greystone. Once we get there, we’ll all die. Do you really think this expedition will succeed?”

“There’s no way.”

“Then we’re leaving tonight.”

Were they planning to run away?

Well, abandoning the expedition was understandable.

If these guys were going to be this useless, it would actually be better for them to leave.

I was about to think that way when they opened their mouths again.

“To survive, we absolutely need the Saintess. The Church and the Imperial Family are both protecting her so closely. She must possess some incredible power. We need the Saintess if we want to survive.”

Wait a second.

“The moment we steal the Saintess, we’ll run.”

“The guards are extremely strict.”

“That’s why you need to draw their attention. Can you cause a disturbance?”

No.

Wait.

Did he just say the Saintess?

Are they insane?

Were they seriously planning to kidnap that little girl?

I was so dumbfounded that my mouth fell open on its own.

I knew about the Saintess too.

The only Saintess in this novel, Lilia.

Even though she was only ten years old, she had joined the expedition because the Church had pushed her into it.

There were countless rumors about Lilia.

That she possessed incredible healing abilities.

That she could kill monsters.

That Lilia would save everyone.

But no matter what kind of power Lilia possessed, she was still nothing more than a frightened ten-year-old girl.

She hadn’t joined this expedition because she wanted to.

Because so many people were targeting Lilia, she had been kept under extremely strict protection around Kael throughout the expedition.

That was why I hadn’t even seen her face once until now.

She spent most of her time inside her tent, and whenever she had to move, she was surrounded by knights.

But these idiots were planning to kidnap Lilia?

“She’ll protect us.”

They were going to kidnap a child just so they could hide behind her?

The situation was so ridiculous that I almost couldn’t believe my own ears.

I swallowed a hollow laugh as they began to move cautiously.

Could I really ignore this?

Absolutely not.

It wasn’t just anything.

This involved a ten-year-old child.

The problem was that I seemed to be the only person who had heard their conversation.

Even if I rushed out right now and confronted them, all they had to do was deny everything.

If things went badly, I could even end up being falsely accused instead.

I needed solid evidence.

Keeping my distance from them, I carefully followed behind.

I would make my move when they actually brought Lilia out.

At that point, there would be no way for them to make excuses.

I would rather catch them red-handed so they couldn’t deny anything.

Then I could make them confess everything with their own mouths.

I clenched my teeth and let my footsteps disappear into the darkness.

You’re all done for.

Lilia quietly wiped away her tears.

Her small body was curled up on the bed inside the tent, trembling faintly.

“I’m scared… Mommy, I’m so scared.”

She hadn’t come here because she wanted to.

She was only a young child who was even frightened by the sound of wolves howling in the forest.

If the adults who had pushed her forward hadn’t done so, Lilia would never have joined the Church.

And if the Church hadn’t pushed her into it, she would never have gone on this expedition.

She had already stopped waiting for, resenting, and despairing over the parents who, unable to bear their poverty, had sold their young daughter with special abilities to the Church.

“Still, I don’t like it here. I want to go home. I’m really scared.”

At least at the Church, there had been someone whose arms she could crawl into.

Older girls who were like big sisters to Lilia had willingly opened their arms to her.

If she closed her eyes tightly and rested against them, she could at least fall asleep.

But ever since joining the expedition, all Lilia had done was cry until her eyes were swollen shut.

I noticed the chapter number in your message is 005, while the text itself matches the later Chapter 14 material you previously sent. I translated the text you provided here, rather than changing it to match the chapter number.