Chapter 084: A Lie Greater Than Truth (2)
─I kept eavesdropping from the corner, you know? Sir Bihen’s mind is completely consud with this battle. He doesn’t have the spare attention for anything else. In tis like these, the only way to catch his eye is for you to show off your skills, Miss. That’s the only way he’ll take even a bit of interest in you.
─Show off my skills? H-How…?
─Ugh, co on. Just don’t hide your abilities, that’s all.
─You an fight at the forefront? No way, absolutely not! He’ll definitely think I’m so scary, gross woman. I’ve worked so hard to keep that hidden… No way. Absolutely not. Helping my brother from behind like I’m doing now is enough.
─Do you really think Sir Bihen will rember you that way? You need to bam! imprint your presence on him.
─…P-Presence?
─Yes! Presence! Listen to , Miss.
Gulp.
─When the mont feels right, charge.
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Thud thud thud! Thud thud thud!
The words Sindy had spoken last night echoed loudly in Linda’s mind.
When she snapped back to reality, her group was already far behind her.
Amidst it all, she could hear her brother Declan’s curses.
Her face flushed hot with embarrassnt.
That damned mama’s boy is never any help in my life!
Did he really have to yell at his sister like that in front of Bihen and all these people, with no regard for propriety?
The real disgrace to the family was him, the immature brother who didn’t even realize it.
Just then, her mother’s advice ca to mind.
It was sothing she always said, sothing she had emphasized repeatedly before Linda set out.
─Who knows? Your destined partner might be in Conwell. So, Linda, you must always be ready for fate. n never spare a glance for won who seem stronger than them. Keep that in mind, alright? I almost lost my chance with your father once because I stepped up by mistake. Don’t make the sa mistake and suffer needlessly like I did…
Linda squeezed her eyes shut.
Sorry, Mom. It seems a daughter can’t escape her mother’s fate after all.
Before she knew it, one hand was gripping the reins, the other clutching her sword.
…If the mood gets weird later, I’ll just say I was montarily possessed.
The allied group approaching was now right in front of her.
Linda pulled out a small flag from her saddle and fixed it to her back like she was sheathing a sword.
The crest of the Theodore family fluttered above her head.
Hiiiiing!
She yanked the reins hard, and her horse let out a fierce cry, rearing up on its front legs.
The approaching group flinched in surprise.
Linda shouted at the man with the ponytail in the center of the group.
“Are you Kendrick?!”
“W-Who are you?!”
“Linda Theodore! Allied forces! Hurry and take cover behind !”
Kendrick blinked in confusion.
…I have allies?
His rcenaries, equally bewildered, glanced at him for guidance.
Kendrick quickly barked orders.
“What are you all doing?! Move quickly! While the allies buy us ti, reform the ranks!”
“Ooh!”
Kendrick and his n swiftly passed by Linda’s side.
As clouds of dust rose around them, the enemies charging straight at her ca into clear view.
The lead knight narrowed his eyes.
“Theodore?! That rat Kendrick was denying it, but he is the Youngest Lady’s lackey after all.”
The knight twirled his lance above his head a few tis before securing it horizontally under his arm.
“A asly territory like Theodore dares to ddle in Conwell’s affairs? Know your place!”
“…”
“You fearless wench! Don’t bla —bla the lord who sent you here! Hiyaa-!”
Thud thud thud thud─!
The knight charged at full speed.
The dust kicked up by his horse’s hooves clouded the vision of his subordinates following behind.
“Hoo.”
Linda closed her eyes, then opened them.
A glint flashed in her gaze.
Kendrick, who had been frantically retreating, saw this and was stunned.
The girl sat motionless on her saddle, calmly staring at the knight charging at her with ferocious montum, utterly unfazed.
“Hey, what are you doing?! Get out of the way—”
He didn’t even finish his sentence.
Boom!
The knight and the girl collided head-on.
To be precise, the knight had ramd into her.
At the sa ti, a shockwave mixed with dust erupted in all directions.
…!
Imdiately after the collision, Kendrick doubted his own eyes.
Far from falling, the girl was gripping the knight’s lance with her left arm.
The spear’s tip, protruding slightly behind her, trembled violently.
The fierce shockwave that had surged monts ago was already dissipating as if it had never been.
Thud!
The sword in Linda’s right hand pierced through a gap in the knight’s armor.
Blood spurted out, and Kendrick stared at the scene in disbelief.
Thump.
A beat later, the knight, who had been locked in contact with Linda, tilted sideways and fell from his horse.
Kendrick’s eyes and mouth widened simultaneously.
His n were no different.
“What the… what just happened?!”
“Good heavens! What did that girl just do?!”
“Woooaah!”
Linda imdiately adjusted her posture on the horse.
She paid no mind to the cheers behind her.
Thud thud thud! Thud thud thud!
The group following the knight was closing in.
There were far more of them than she had estimated from a distance.
“It’s the Theodore forces!”
“Push through! Wipe them all out!”
“All units, charge-!”
Kendrick heard the enemies’ shouts.
He gritted his teeth.
He couldn’t just retreat here.
He had the pride of a rcenary.
Besides, with that troubleso knight out of the way, they might just have a chance.
“We fight too! Let’s do this!”
The sound of tal being drawn echoed all around.
As if snapped awake by the sound, Kendrick’s eyes sharpened fiercely.
Just then—
“Hey, Kendrick.”
When had he gotten so close?
The voice ca from right beside him.
Kendrick turned his head, his eyes widening as if he’d seen a ghost.
“Bihen… Benkou…!?”
“Looks like you’ve finally co to your senses. I thought you’d stay a fool forever.”
He was referring to the ti during the Talrug Canyon campaign when Kendrick had collapsed under the Mandrake’s Dark Magic.
Kendrick later learned that Bihen had saved his life.
Though Bihen was his savior, their first eting hadn’t exactly been pleasant, especially since Kendrick had accused him of being the Archduke’s spy…
His emotions were understandably complicated.
* * *
Kendrick stared at intensely. I couldn’t fathom why he was looking at so uncomfortably.
By the way…
Linda Theodore.
Last night, when Bonnie explained the Theodore forces’ strength, she had specifically ntioned that na.
Now I understand why.
If she’s cloaked her entire body in protective aura…
Bolero had said sothing like that. In their terms, they called it a Mana Field, didn’t they?
anwhile, Bonnie and her husband, who had arrived a step late, briefly exchanged greetings with Kendrick.
Declan, who had followed close behind, rushed toward his sister like a shot.
“You crazy girl!”
“Brother? Why are you here…”
“Why?! Do you want to die?!”
Even with enemies closing in, Declan didn’t care and imdiately started scolding his sister.
His handso face twisted into sothing demonic.
“You’re hell-bent on making your only brother a disloyal son! If sothing happened to you here, how could I face our parents?!”
“No, I…”
“Shut it! Are you hurt?!”
“Of course not—”
Clang!
I leaped from my saddle.
I deflected a spear blade flying toward them and landed.
“Let’s save the talk for later.”
“Sir Bihen…!”
I imdiately employed Frost Sword.
In an instant, the long blade of my Bastard Sword was enveloped in white frost.
Whoosh—!
I swung it.
The distance was close enough.
A wave of cold surged forward, skimming the ground.
The target was the horses’ legs.
Crack crack crack!
The sound of freezing air mixed with all sorts of noises shook the area.
Horses let out frantic cries as they fell, and the soldiers riding them tumbled in every direction.
“Sweep them away!”
It was Kendrick.
At his command, his n rushed past in unison.
* * *
The fight ended quickly.
Kendrick’s rcenaries proved quite valiant, and Bonnie’s wide-area magic played its part perfectly.
The enemy, with their formation broken, either fell without much resistance or scattered in all directions.
“Haa, haa…”
Whose breathing was so loud?
It was Declan, sprawled out on the ground.
His sister Linda was comforting him by his side, looking perfectly calm as if nothing had happened.
“Ah.”
Our eyes t briefly, but she quickly turned away. What was that about?
…Oh.
I hadn’t realized I’d been closely observing her fight.
She must have noticed my gaze.
Damn, that was a mistake.
Even in the Empire, openly scrutinizing soone’s swordsmanship is considered quite rude.
I’ll have to apologize properly later.
As I turned quietly, Bonnie and her husband approached, with Kendrick in tow.
For so reason, all three looked grim.
Before I could ask, Bonnie spoke first.
“Sweetheart, listen to this. I don’t think we can just brush this off.”
She subtly pointed her thumb at Kendrick.
I didn’t know much about this ponytail guy, nor did I particularly want to dig deeper…
But Kendrick looked uncharacteristically anxious.
His fingers fidgeted, and his lips twitched as if he wanted to speak but couldn’t.
He was like a restless mutt.
“What is it?”
The mood was grating, so I asked curtly.
He flinched, startled, but still didn’t speak.
I shot a questioning look at Bonnie and her husband, but they clamped their mouths shut as if they didn’t want to say it either.
“I’m… sorry.”
Did I just hear that wrong?
I looked at Kendrick.
He spoke again.
“I owe you my life… again.”
“That’s not sothing to apologize for.”
“…”
Even if he’s older than , I couldn’t just keep pressing him when he was too intimidated to speak.
Annoyed by how everything was getting on my nerves, I irritably scanned the surroundings.
The Theodore forces were lounging and chatting casually, while Kendrick’s rcenaries were sneaking glances at , just like their leader.
As I turned back to Kendrick—
“Please… forgive us, Bihen Benkou.”
“…What?”
“We… used your na.”
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