chapter 3
3 – 1. Meeting (2)
How did it come to flow here?
Breaking the Witchbeast’s neck, Adele slowly reviewed the situation.
I got an order.
You can stop now, you can stop and leave.
what to do, where to go
Adele thought for a moment, then came to a conclusion.
I want to try something called ‘travel’ that my colleague said.
I want to go to a place I’ve never seen before.
Then, by chance, he belonged to a group of merchants leaving the imperial kingdom.
I remember that the schedule wasn’t bad.
It was a daily routine to always wield a knife and get covered in blood.
Now I just have to talk peacefully with someone every day.
I wondered if it was travel that lasted peace.
Then, on the journey, there was someone I became close with.
The man said he would get out of the top and return to his hometown.
Maybe it was because he revealed that he was on a journey with no destination, just steps to reach him.
The man wanted to be a companion while moving with him.
He wanted to go to his hometown and treat him to a meal.
So Adele decided on her next destination north.
In the meantime, I kept mixing and mixing with the party.
At some point, I was naturally included in a procession of aristocrats.
Kiek-.
A monster wriggling around with its neck held in Adele’s grasp.
The movement gave him a slight squeeze in his hand.
Wow!-
After one eerie sound, it fell silent.
“… .”
Adele looked around slowly.
A lot of time has passed since the Empire declared victory in the war against the Demon Beast.
Nonetheless, they roamed the land.
It continued to give off a disgusting stench.
‘Is it over there?’
I move to the place where I heard the whistle.
in situations where visibility is not secured.
Even though it was clearly expected to attract the attention of the Witchbeasts.
There is one reason why it makes such a loud noise.
‘In case you lose your direction and wander.’
Thinking so, Adele moved to the place where the sound came from.
“Something is coming!”
A booming voice came from the front.
In case they are surprised, very slowly and carefully.
Move in a way that clearly shows that you are a person.
“uh?”
“What, what is it?”
“person?”
Adele stopped in her seat.
They are not the main unit, they are a special air force that splits and moves.
The day will stand still as you have gone through battles on special missions.
Even the slightest suspicious movement can be a problem.
So Adele lowered her guard until they approached.
He stood with both hands raised and waited quietly.
“… who are you?”
The knights who finally got their weapons asked.
Adele, who had just opened her mouth to their question, was troubled for a moment.
“uh… .”
What should I explain, who should I say?
They may be curious about their identity.
In fact, he had nothing to tell them.
After hesitating for a moment, Adele carefully opened her mouth.
“My name is Adele.”
* * *
“You are safe!”
Brenda was relieved to see the knights who had just returned.
Sien said that they seemed to be targeting those who were moving as a special air force.
You don’t know how nervous I was as a leader at those words.
If they died or were injured, I wouldn’t have been able to sleep at night because of that guilt.
I had no idea how happy I was to have everyone back safely.
However, there was a young man between them.
When asked about the identity, an absurd answer came back.
“What are you talking about. It seems like you’ve repulsed the Witchbeast.”
After hearing the answers from the knights in the special operations team, Brenda asked the question in retrospect.
No matter how 5th grade it is, a Witchbeast is a Witchbeast.
The leather is so tough that it is difficult to cut with normal blades.
That’s why unless you’re a skilled person who can use ‘chakra’.
No matter how skilled a soldier is, he has no choice but to fight a tough fight.
But how could such a young man deal with the Witchbeast?
“It is true, Captain. Would we lie?”
“They were all over the place, but at some point it went quiet. And that young man appeared.”
“I really want… . I have to say something that makes sense… .”
Brenda scratched her head and looked at the man standing over there.
Whether you look at it this way or that way, you are just a young man who has just become an adult.
Judging by his behavior, it would be rude to even call him a knight.
‘Well, he must have used something other than brute force.’
Those who have experience fighting demons know how to chase them.
It’s not difficult to defeat a demon with just sound or smell.
It’s just too difficult to kill.
“What’s wrong, Captain?”
“Ah, Shien.”
I relayed the words of the knights to my master.
Hearing Brender’s words, Shien blinked for a moment.
“I’d like to talk to him for a minute.”
To her words, the knights will bring her right away, he replied.
After a while.
“Shin. I brought you.”
“thank you.”
A man in front of a carriage, a woman in a carriage.
Adele looked at Shien, who was silently looking at her.
Do you think the action was rude?
Brender, who was standing next to him, was about to open his mouth.
rattle-.
Shien comes out of the carriage.
Then I stare at the man standing in front of me.
“Did you say Adele?”
“… That’s right.”
“Then Adele. Sien of Liechtenauer wishes to thank you.”
Shien lowered her head and spoke in a polite tone.
Thanks to this, Brander and the drivers around him were startled.
The person who will be the new owner of Lichtenauer bows down to the common people.
Not to mention other prestigious families, even rural aristocrats wouldn’t do it.
“Shin-nim.”
“He is the one who helped our knights. I have to say goodbye like this.”
After restraining Brender, Shien looked at Adele and opened her mouth again.
“Are you going north?”
“yes. I happened to… .”
“It’s good. I would like to repay you as a token of gratitude. Can you accompany us?”
After thinking for a moment, Adele nodded her head.
Didn’t my party also say they were going north anyway?
Although traveling with unexpected people is a bit like that.
Originally, this is another taste of travel.
It was clear what my colleague was talking about.
“Shin. It seems that the first step is to get out of here.”
It is dangerous to stay for a long time because the fog does not clear.
Cien nodded at Brender’s opinion.
The knights immediately prepare to move.
“Come on, one, two, three!”
The corpses of the Witchbeasts are thrown into the fire.
Their bodies bring other demons.
It is best to burn it down if possible.
Tap, tap!-
“… .”
watching the burning flames.
Left alone in the carriage, Shien bit her lip.
Throbbing-.
It’s scary, it’s scary, it’s so scary.
He is the only direct descendant of Lichtenauer.
That’s why I tried to pretend that nothing was wrong, pretending to be calm.
He swung his sword, commanded, and cut the beast.
Because I had to do that, because now I can’t avoid it.
The knights see themselves like that and say that they are like the new masters of Lichtenau.
You might have admired him for being a strong and wonderful person.
But he is neither strong nor great.
It’s just a coward trying to endure and endure.
It’s not just that witches are scary.
What was more frightening and terrifying to Shien.
To kill or injure someone else because of oneself.
To those who believe only in themselves, who regard them as their only hope.
It was to betray that trust and expectation by showing a lower-than-expected appearance.
tight-.
Clasping her hands, Shien tried to calm herself down.
You shouldn’t see it shaking.
He is now their lord and center.
You have to live up to that expectation and that belief.
Thinking like that, I catch myself shaking.
that there should be nothing
Shien asked himself to do so.
* * *
After passing through the forest, we safely reached the northern plains.
Now, if you go a little further, you will see the estate of Lichtenauer.
A final rest before arriving at your destination.
“… .”
Brenda had been watching Adele closely from earlier.
A little wary of this sudden appearance.
And the reason was the curiosity that transcended the boundaries.
‘The knights under his command are not those with little experience, and there’s no way they were mistaken.’
The Demon Beasts were clearly aiming for a special mission.
However, the knights belonging to him did not engage.
And Adele appeared from beyond the fog.
No matter what method it was, that young man had repulsed the Witchbeasts.
‘What is identity? It’s a little hard to see it as a regular soldier.’
Was it a free knight who was active in a family?
No, the odds of that are slim.
Even if it was a free article, such a shabby behavior would make no sense.
Could it be a wandering mercenary?
However, if it’s a practical skill that can drive out the demons.
There’s no way the mercenaries will let you go easily?
It is a world where power is power.
It is the time when those who protect from the Witchbeast receive support.
In such a situation, there is no way to send such a person out.
‘Looking at his age, he’s probably not a retired soldier or a retired knight.’
It is a clear fact that I owe the youth.
I don’t want to react like this myself.
He’s a benefactor who helped the knights under his command, but I don’t want to treat him coldly.
However, he is the leader of the escort procession.
Always be prepared for contingency and worry about the worst.
An unknown person joining the escort procession.
It was the part where I had to be vigilant.
‘I’ll have to watch it a little longer.’
Brenda thought so and poured in the steaming coffee.
“… .”
Adele didn’t seem too concerned.
I can feel the eyes watching me closely, but that’s okay.
Since he is escorting an important person, of course he has no choice but to do so.
Could it be that you feel uncomfortable with yourself?
I stayed on the edge of the group as much as possible.
“excuse me.”
When I looked up, there were two knights standing in front of me.
Adele, wondering who it was, found someone with a slightly familiar face.
It was the article that belonged to the special air force.
“Because I couldn’t say thank you.”
greeting? At those words, Adele blinked.
Why do you say thank you?
Did you do something great?
“greeting… You mean?”
“Aren’t you here to help us? Of course I have to say hello.”
“Looks like he belonged to the regular army. Is that correct?”
The knights seemed to consider Adele to be a soldier.
After thinking about it for a while, Adele decided to do so.
If they can figure out who I am, I’m welcome.
“It was still dangerous. To go through the demons alone.”
“Did you learn the kind that monsters hate during your service? Even if it smells… .”
“no. It doesn’t have to be. I was able to subdue it with my bare hands.”
The knights burst into laughter at Adele’s words.
Do you think he responded as a joke to the words of concern for himself?
They applaud him saying that he is definitely a skilled soldier.
“Really.”
But Adele didn’t give in and said it again.
“So, did you really drive out the Witchbeast with your bare hands?”
“yes.”
“Oh, you joke too much. We also need a sword.”
Do you think you have a good sense of humor?
The knights were not in the mood to believe Adele’s words at all.
Actually, that’s normal.
Even against wild beasts, it is almost impossible to win with bare hands.
However, dealing with a monster that is more terrifying than a beast with bare hands?
Even a good-hearted person will tell you not to play around with a straight face.
“Believe it or not, you two are free.”
When Adele said that, the knights made a little embarrassed faces.
“hot!”
“Yay!”
In the meantime, a scream is heard from somewhere.
Two knights were lightly sparring beside them.
Amidst the cheering of his colleagues, his appearance comes out quite a bit.
“Hey, Adele. Can you show me then?”
“yes?”
“How about a light taijutsu sparring with me?”
“You mean Dalian?”
“It will be a little different from dealing with a beast, but I think you can agree with it once you taste the fist. Alas, don’t worry. I also make a fist.”
“… .”
At the knight’s words, Adele pondered for a moment before standing up.
“Are you all right?”
From the perspective of the knights, the question felt like this.
At best, you’ll be facing a former soldier.
Wouldn’t that be an insult to one’s self-esteem?
However, Adele’s intentions were completely different from him.
‘I could die.’