I looked at my wives falling behind and made a decision.
Burns!
Yes, vice-captain!
Stay with my wives and follow slowly! If you think youll get caught up in the battle, act as you see fit! Anyway, bring just the two of them safely to the Jackson familys territory.
Ner and Arwin couldnt oppose my command.
They were already at their physical limits.
Even though we were riding horses, maintaining such speed for a long ti was exhausting for the riders.
Burns nodded his head.
I then looked at Arwin and Ner.
...
...
After exchanging glances, I nodded.
With that, they seed to lose montum, slowing down and gradually falling far behind.
After all, it was impossible for my wives to follow all the way to the battlefield.
From here, it would be okay to approach slowly.
The Jackson familys castle was visible for a while now.
At the sa ti, the heavy atmosphere of the battlefield was approaching.
I could faintly hear the sounds of monsters rampaging.
The more I heard, the faster I urged my horse.
Baran, who was also speeding up beside , said,
Vice-captain! Theres no sign of the boss monster!
I nodded at this welco news.
It was sowhat of a relief.
I focused on the external facts.
I tried not to pay any attention to my wavering heart.
I still couldnt believe it.
Was I really going to et her?
It had been 7 years.
Such a long ti had passed.
Was I finally going to face her?
...
I shook my head.
And then looked forward.
Whatever happens... the battle cos first.
We continued on, cutting through the rain.
.
.
.
.
-Heeheehee!
On the battlefield that unfolded before us, we brought our horses to a halt.
...What is this?
Shawn murmured as he gazed upon the horrific disaster unfolding before his eyes.
What was imdiately visible wasnt a battle between monsters and soldiers.
It was a battle among soldiers themselves.
A literal war was raging.
The people were killing and brutalizing each other, unleashing unspeakable cruelty.
I caught my breath at the sight.
Could the hero party have gotten entangled in such a war?
Berg! Follow !
But Gales call snapped back to reality.
Regaining my senses, I saw a red hawk leading us.
Gale, following the hawks trail, spurred his horse forward.
A war has broken out...! I never imagined the Jackson familys succession struggle would escalate to this...!
Succession struggle...?
Lets talk about it later...!
I agreed with Gales words.
Now was not the ti for such discussions.
Especially not in a place like this.
And as we felt ourselves drawing closer... the turmoil in my heart only grew.
Being my first experience of this kind, I didnt know how to control myself.
Telling myself to stop thinking about it didnt work as easily as saying it.
She decided to forget . She left .
She said she would not co back.
She was the one who broke all our promises.
And yet... here I was, still disturbed.
...Huh.
I exhaled shortly.
Regaining my composure was a challenge.
Rembering the pain she caused seed to make a bit colder.
Thinking of Ner and Arwin, my resolve strengthened more than before.
I was prepared for whatever I might see.
-Beeeeep!
The red hawk cried out and dove into a group of soldiers.
...Ah... shit...
I quietly cursed at the scene unfolding before my eyes.
I closed my eyes tightly and gripped the reins hard.
I saw a bright sanctuary surrounded by soldiers.
Nurous monsters trying to invade that sanctuary were also visible.
Who was at the center was all too obvious.
-Thump. Thump. Thump.
Facing the wounds of the past made even more unsettled.
It felt like all those mories were coming back to life.
I shook my head with difficulty once more.
Now was not the ti for this.
I gathered my courage for the second ti and shouted.
Baran!
Yes, vice-captain!
I issued a tactical command.
Circle to the left! Lead the monsters! Well draw their attention and slip into the encirclent if theres an opening! Rescuing the hero party in the center is our priority!
Yes! Follow , Jackson!
When Baran called for Jackson, Jackson also shouted.
Jackson squad! Follow Baran-nim!
Several rcenaries responded energetically.
I then issued another command.
Shawn! Support the vulnerable western side of the encirclent! As always, respond to sudden situations on your own!
Yes, vice-captain!
-Swish!
I drew my sword.
The team mbers simultaneously beca one, drawing their swords.
Gale also took out his weapon.
Just before starting the battle, I gave Baran one last order.
Baran! Blow the horn! Let them know reinforcents have arrived!
In war, morale was everything. It was essential to inform the soldiers inside about the arrival of reinforcents to give them strength.
Baran didnt hesitate to follow my command.
He pulled a horn from his waistband and blew into it until his cheeks were about to burst.
-Boooom...! Boooom...!
I could see the soldiers accompanying the hero party looking in our direction.
The loud sound drew the attention of several monsters towards us.
Lets go!
With that final command, everyone scattered in different directions.
Gale stayed by my side.
.
.
.
I targeted the weakened encirclent.
Thanks to Baran leading the monsters away, a gap opened.
Hup!
I gripped my sword tightly and swung it downward.
A stance repeated thousands, if not hundreds of tis.
...But for so reason, today it felt unfamiliar.
Even the smooth handling of the sword seed unsettling.
The soldiers within the encirclent, realizing reinforcents had arrived, began to gather strength.
They pushed back the monsters with shields and stabbed them with spears, waiting for us to get closer.
The monsters caught between the soldiers and us quickly t their demise.
Gale, too, was fiercely swinging his sword beside , slaying monsters.
Gale!
Soone inside the encirclent shouted.
A womans voice, unfamiliar to .
Gale responded loudly to the voice.
Sylphrien-nim! Were here! Just hold on a little longer!
Unconsciously, I scanned the inside of the encirclent at their voices.
My eyes searched for the saintess.
...But she was nowhere to be seen.
Should I be relieved or the opposite?
I vented my frustration on the monsters before .
It felt like returning to the early days when I first beca a rcenary.
It had been a long ti since Id fought with such emotions.
Sylphrien-nim! Is everyone safe?
Gale asked again.
Even as I slew monsters, my mind was fixated on that question.
I dont know...! The, the saintess...!
The saintess.
-Clench...!
At that word, I gritted my teeth.
I could no longer control the emotions that had started to run wild.
Break through!
I commanded the team mbers.
At the sa ti, more fiercely, I sliced through monsters left and right, penetrating deeper.
Forcibly creating an opening, I cut, split, and killed.
As forcefully as I pushed through, I was scratched and bitten here and there.
But the monsters between the soldiers and our team mbers were quickly crushed.
The soldiers, seeing us appear, seed almost tearful with joy.
We... were saved...!
At the sa ti, they made way for us.
The encirclent broke, creating a path.
An escape route erged.
Guard the escape path!
At my command, the team mbers began to secure the newly opened escape route.
Gale, too, worked hard alongside the team mbers to ensure the encirclent didnt close again.
Felix! Can you hear !
Gale shouted to soone.
Yes!
A strong response ca back.
Well slowly move towards this side to escape! Get ready! Dont move too hastily!
Yes!
But I didnt have the leisure to focus on that.
I left the formation guarded by the team mbers.
Jumping off my horse, I ran deep into the encirclent.
Thanks to Baran leading the monsters away... one by one, the soldiers began to catch their breath.
There was a brief respite.
Haah... Haah...
My breathing grew heavier.
The sounds of the battlefield faded away.
With each step I took, it felt like I was going back in ti.
It reminded of the tis I went to visit her at the orphanage.
The only difference now was that she had beco a saintess, and I had beco a rcenary.
My body was covered in fatigue from the short but intense battle.
There were many new wounds.
I was bitten and torn by monsters, my flesh exposed in several places.
My boots were stuck in the mud, and my wet clothes clung to .
Unknowingly, I dropped my sword and threw off my helt.
My world was gradually narrowing.
The heat of the war, and its discomfort.
The corpses of people and monsters all disappeared from my sight.
The only thing I could see was one thing.
..........Sien.
I whispered her na.
At the sa ti, an illusion occurred as if only the two of us existed in this world.
It seed like we were the only ones in a pure white space.
...Haah.......Haah....
Her shallow breaths, as if they might extinguish at any mont.
Her expression uncontrollably contorted.
There was no need to force a strained expression.
...Ha.
Even a hollow laugh escaped.
She lay in a mud puddle, unable to move.
The girl who once harmonized with flowers and sunlight, now unconscious, covered in blood, collapsed in the mud.
This was our reunion after seven years.
-Splash!
My legs gave out.
One knee sank into the mud puddle.
Powerless laughter continued at this sight.
Leaving ...
I found myself whispering unintentionally.
Strength drained from my entire body.
...Is this what you chose?
The first words I addressed to her, who couldnt respond, were of anger.
As if continuing the conversation we never finished.
I was unleashing my anger at her, eting her for the first ti in seven years.
All to end up like this...!
Breaking all our promises.
Making it impossible for to wait.
Leaving with such deep wounds.
You left to end up like this!!
I shouted.
Get up and say sothing!!
-Thud!
A heavy force was transmitted under my arm.
A hand guiding , as I was unable to regain my senses.
Berg! This isnt the ti! We must leave before the encirclent closes again!
It was Gale who had approached .
He lifted up.
He handed back the sword I had dropped.
At his words, I clenched my teeth and looked around.
It seed that not many had heard what I just said.
Everyone was too exhausted from the battle to pay attention to others.
The only ones who heard my voice... were, at most, the three people who had gathered around Sien.
A Dragonian warrior.
A Centaur.
An Elf.
...Do you know the saintess-nim?
The Dragonian warrior asked.
It was easy to guess who they were.
The exhausted Centaur whispered,
...A human rcenary?
At this, the Elf inhaled sharply, as if realizing sothing.
...That cant be...!
But I had no ti to pay attention to their detailed reactions.
The anger that had started to burst forth was uncontrollable.
Isnt she your companion?
...What?
Why isnt there a single bastard helping Sien...!
The Dragonian warrior whispered in confusion,
...Sien?
...Ha.
I felt deflated at that almost playful response.
Even trying to get angry felt like punching the air.
Then I rembered again.
The words Arwin had said to .
No one knows saintess na.
She had said it might even be rude to call the saintess by her na.
That was indeed the case.
Even the paladins who took Sien from told not to call her by her na.
Gale spoke again.
Well talk later...! We need to leave!
The Dragonian warrior responded.
Master... but how can we touch the saintess-nims body...!
Gale hesitated at that response.
I just couldnt believe this absurd farce.
Could it be true that no one was allowed to touch Siens body or even call her by na?
Did that an for the past seven years... she had no physical contact with anyone, nor was her na ever called?
The cruelty of that reality tightened around my throat.
But, suppressing my emotions, I approached Sien.
I reached out to her.
-Thud!
-Thump!
Two hands blocked .
The Dragonian warrior and the Centaur.
Move.
I said.
...You mustnt touch the saintess. We need to find another way.
He spoke with a pained expression.
To , his concern seed ridiculous.
...So she should just die here?
...
It was clear that delaying would only dampen the morale of the soldiers we had briefly rallied.
I hadnt brought the Red Flas here to stay.
Leading only the Head Hunter unit for a brief visit, I couldnt afford the burden of a prolonged battle.
-Thump!
I pushed the exhausted Dragonian warrior and Centaur aside and approached Sien.
...
My steps halted again in front of her.
I slowly knelt down.
Her head lay in front of my knees.
This was the closest I had been to her in the last seven years.
It seed like she could wake up any mont now, smiling at .
She appeared slightly more mature.
That change made the passage of ti more tangible.
Yet, at the sa ti, being by her side felt so natural.
As if we had t just yesterday.
...Sien.
Being here like this... the emotions I had hidden surged forward.
Precious feelings hidden behind fierce anger.
The harsh words born of resentnt that I had only imagined, couldnt escape my lips.
Especially in front of her, who couldnt hear my voice, I could be utterly honest.
...You said you wanted to eat delicious food.
I murmured.
She didnt respond.
...You wanted to wear pretty clothes.
Unknowingly, my hand brushed her hair.
I resented her... but just as much, I wished for her happiness.
I never wanted this for her.
Why are you like this... why... why...
I held her cheeks in both hands.
-Thud...
I bowed my head, touching my forehead to hers.
....
Then, I stood up and lifted her in my arms.
It was an action so easy and natural for .
The Elf spoke, probably the woman Arwin ntioned, Sylphrien.
If you disrespect the Saintess of purity like this...
Her tone was cautionary, even though she herself seed to know it wasnt right.
It felt as though she was speaking while knowing I was doing the right thing.
It might have been just a remnant of a habit built over the past seven years.
...Does she look like a Saintess of purity to you?
I asked, showing her Sien, who lay in my arms, covered in blood and mud.
.......
She had no words to say.
In my frustration, I burst out.
...Those so-called warriors of God, so scared of them!
Had Sien received no helping hand from anyone all this ti?
The thought was enough to make my teeth grind in pity.
...The Gods might punish you...
Sylphrien whispered to in a worried tone.
Her voice genuinely sounded concerned for .
Looking at her... I let out a half-laugh and said,
Let them.
With those words, I walked away.
The End of The Chapter
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