Cold, fearful, and... lonely.
These were the emotions I was grappling with.
I couldnt even tell where I was. Was I still in the Naita Forest where I had been attacked, or had I fled to so other forest?
There was no ti to care about anything. All I could do was run.
I lost track of how many nights I had spent in this forest. Whenever I heard the sound of the pursuers, I would run. I stuffed whatever I could find into my mouth as I fled. Day or night didnt matter anymore as I would snatch brief monts of sleep in hiding.
Fortunately, today I found what seed like a really safe spot. A large tree on a steep incline. I lay my body down in the small space I found after climbing the tree.
From here, I could spot anyone approaching from a distance and, if soone ca... I could probably put up a fight for a while.
It wasnt quite dark yet.
I began to remove my weary gear one by one, inspecting my body.
....Ah.
It seems like it was only yesterday that I was riddled with holes from a sword, and now Im a ss again, wounded all over.
Thankfully, there were no injuries serious enough to threaten my life, but the number of wounds was a problem. I was worried about losing too much blood, given the injuries. Thankfully, the wounds had clotted and stopped bleeding, but they were fragile and could reopen with the slightest strain.
I unwrapped the bandage I had tied around my leg a few days ago.
......Sigh..
This injury on my leg was the most concerning. Im no doctor, but I could tell it was in bad shape. It was starting to fester, oozing pus, and the color was alarmingly dark.
I felt an urgent need to see a doctor. The only silver lining was that the wound was only as long as a finger and not too deep. Thankfully, I could still walk; there was no greater relief than that.
I slowly relaxed my body and began to rest.
As the heat of battle cooled, the pain from my injuries worsened... but I had to rest anyway.
I had no idea how long this state would continue.
Escaping from Sharon Paynes pursuit and getting out of the forest to the nearest city was my first goal.
How had my journey to the Hexter family ended up like this?
Read Why Should I Stop Being a Vill...
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...No, maybe I should be grateful Im alive.
After all, my survival that day was nothing short of miraculous.
The battle had gone much more smoothly than expected.
When Sharon Payne ordered the attack, three of the rcenaries were quickly taken down. However, the remaining ones fought back fiercely, preventing us from being overwheld.
After I took down three of Paynes soldiers, the rcenaries, who had co to respect , began to follow my lead. Our improved organization gradually tipped the montum in our favor.
The odds were still against us, but the enemy was struggling.
But then Sharon Payne intervened again.
She asked the rcenaries fighting for their lives to turn on , and without hesitation, they betrayed .
I still rember the change in their eyes, especially Yorens.
I thought we had grown close, sharing als and stories... but in the face of death, it all seed futile.
I cant bla him, though.
Everyone except surrendered their swords and walked towards Paynes side. Then, Sharon, ever untrustworthy, ordered their execution.
She exploited the crevice of fear in their hearts and claid their lives.
Since then, realizing there was no chance of winning, I almost gave up.
But then, the faces of a few people flashed through my mind, along with the promises wed made.
The promise to et Judy again.
The promise to return to Daisy.
And the promise, which I thought was broken, to be a support for the twins.
Perhaps its all just an excuse. Maybe I was just recalling these mories to muster the strength to fight back because I didnt want to die.
Regardless, thinking of them spurred my body into action again. As if I had taken so dicine, the pain and fatigue began to fade.
And so, I started to flee.
I quickly overpowered Paynes soldier in front of , thrusting my sword into his body.
Even after being stabbed, the soldier grabbed my sword, forcing to abandon it.
Fleeing was easier that way. Choosing between fighting and running, it was better to pick just one.
And thats how Ive made it this far.
Im still alive, but hardly in good shape, neither ntally nor physically.
This ordeal has made realize how important it is to have soone by your side.
I never thought I was this kind of person, always prioritizing my life and thinking about how to survive this crisis.
But now, I find myself yearning for those who stood by .
When I was in pain, they would comfort my wounds, bring food. They offered words of encouragent and worried about .
Having realized this is the first ti Ive suffered alone since transmigrating into this world, I missed these things.
I havent experienced much pain, but whenever I did, the twins were always there to care for ticulously... Im quite shaken by the difference.
If I close my eyes now and never wake up, would anyone find my body?
Would anyone miss ?
Judy and Daisy might.
But the twins...? We parted on bad terms. Wouldnt they feel relieved to hear of my death?
A part of knew they would be deeply saddened, but as my body weakened, so did my heart. I even entertained such needless thoughts.
I regret it. I never thought Id feel this way so soon, but the threat of death changes everything.
If I were to die like this, for instance, if the wound on my leg becos infected and I dont wake up tomorrow...
Wouldnt I regret parting with the twins this way? Our relationship may have soured, but we were incredibly close for 10 years. We were each others support, growing together.
That past is unchangeable. So, for such beautiful mories to end like this...
My eyes were gradually closing. I was too exhausted. I was drifting into a deep sleep, into a dreamless slumber.
****
Rustling sounds woke up.
The first thing I felt upon opening my eyes was an intense chill. The forest was now embracing the night, revealing its sharp claws.
I had to be wary not just of Paynes soldiers in the forest, but also of wild animals and poisonous insects.
I raised my upper body and turned around to scan my surroundings.
Sure enough, like will-o-the-wisps, I could see soldiers walking around with torches.
I didnt need to confirm they were Paynes n.
Another rustling noise made hold my breath. This ti, it was uncomfortably close.
I slowly moved to check the other side.
Two soldiers were passing by at close range.
I could hear their conversation.
...Man, shouldnt we assu weve lost him by now? Its been four days of searching.
...Idiot, dont you understand the seriousness? We need to catch him to stay alive...!
...I get it, damn it! But...ugh...why did it have to co to this? Isnt that guy Cayden Pryster?
Yeah, Cayden Pryster, Pryster! You know Pryster, right?
No, thats why Im asking. Hes no longer a Pryster, right? Everywhere you go, you hear hes been disowned by the family. Why are Prysters soldiers here? Shouldnt he be irrelevant by now...?
I couldnt believe my ears.
Prysters soldiers? Had Pryster House heard about ? So quickly..?
Who knows? The way things are, it doesnt seem like thats the case. Anyway... right now, were dead either if were caught by Prysters n, or if Cayden Pryster stays alive. We should hope hes either dead sowhere in this forest or we catch him... Ah, if I knew it would co to this, I wouldnt have ssed with such a guy...
...Bullshit. Was that your choice? What else could we have done? If Sharon says jump, we jump. If you want to bla soone, bla Sharon Payne... Even though shes fueled by vengeance... we still need our heads attached...
If we had finished him in one go, we wouldnt be in this ss. And even Lady Shalon didnt expect Prysters to react like this. Everywhere you go, you hear hes been disowned, and originally, Cayden was from a commoner background... Since they had abandoned him, how could we think otherwise?
...Even at deaths door, you defend Sharon Payne? What, you think shell spread her legs for you or sothing?
Im not dying. We find him, kill him, and get the hell out. You can give up and offer your neck if you want. If Prysters realize the Payne family is behind this... who knows how theyll react.
...Whats the use? Lets just find him quickly. Prysters soldiers are scouring Naita Forest as we speak.
They soon passed by.
There were plenty of soldiers walking around with torches, so I had to keep my breath and remain hidden.
****
Before I knew it, my eyes were open. I hadnt even realized I had fallen asleep again. Startled by the fact that I had dozed off unknowingly, I raised my head, but surprisingly, I felt completely drained compared to before I fell asleep.
I dragged my body along, barely able to crawl, scanning my surroundings. It was dawn, the sky tinged with blue light, and there was no one around.
First, my throat was parched. Escaping was one thing, but I needed to quench my thirst. Having survived the night, it was ti to leave this refuge.
I began to descend the tree with difficulty.
Then the world spun, and strength slipped from my grasp. The soldiers had said four days last night... Now it was five. After five days of fighting, fleeing, and hardly eating; my body was hitting its limits.
- Thud.
I fell from the tree.
And then, a chilling voice pierced the air.
Found him!!
Before I could even identify who it was, I forced my dizzy body to stand. Giving up here ant death.
In a flash, I thought of the people who were counting on my promises.
As I began to move my stiff body, it gradually loosened up. My once creaky and rigid limbs started to feel smoother.
Like always, I began to run through the forest.
.
.
.
.
How long had I run?
My vision flickered, and my legs gradually gave out. The pain throughout my body returned.
I thought I had escaped far, but one pursuer stubbornly clung to , refusing to fall behind.
...Huff...huff...
Eventually, I stopped running. Or more accurately, I stopped walking.
I couldnt move anymore.
Sitting down on the ground, I looked at the person who had been chasing .
Seeing sitting, he also didnt hurry anymore.
Leaning on his knees, he took a long ti to catch his breath.
How much ti had passed?
The man silently drew his sword and began to walk towards . Our relationship was just like this - no more, no less. I didnt know his na or his story, but no words were needed in this life-or-death struggle.
Just because I was sitting didnt an I had given up. I simply couldnt muster the strength to run anymore. But I racked my brain for what to do next.
The first ti he swung his sword, there would be an opportunity.
Could I predict which direction he would swing? No, could I gather the strength to block and counterattack?
The soldier, still panting, continued to approach .
He raised his sword high.
-Thud, thud, thud...
At the sa ti, the ground vibrated.
It was a sound too faint for us, exhausted as we were, to hear.
...Farewell. Dont resent .
He spoke flatly, seemingly aware of the strange dynamic between us.
And then, at that mont, a shout tore through the forest.
Cayden!!
As I turned my head, a massive black horse appeared before my eyes and kicked the soldier in front of .
The shocked soldier flew through the air and crashed into a nearby tree, collapsing. But the black horse didnt stop there.
It trampled the fallen soldier, relentlessly until he lost consciousness.
Gradually, I realized the identity of this wild horse.
...Storm?
As I watched Storm, soone leaped off the horse.
She knelt swiftly before , as I lay collapsed, and held my cheeks in her hands.
I found you..
Then, she pressed her lips to mine.
......
For a long mont, we shared each others breath. Her soft tongue moistened my parched lips.
...Haa..
After a lengthy kiss, she pulled away from , gently exhaling onto my face.
Then she whispered in a voice quivering as if on the verge of tears.
.....I knew you were alive, Cayden... I knew it..
Her voice was filled with relief. Contrary to her words, it was a voice brimming with worry.
I couldnt believe my eyes. The last face I expected to see was right in front of .
....Judy.
As I called her na, tears started to stream down her cheeks. She cradled my face in her embrace.
...Why did you make keep your promise!!
She cried out, almost petulantly.
It was Judy who had kept our promise to et again.
--- End Of The Chapter ---
[T/N: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 10 chapters ahead of the release: /DylanVittori ]
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