Chapter 57 : I had been bothered for a while
Chapter 57: I Had Been Bothered For a While
Tadak.
Robin’s body shot forward as if bouncing off the ground.
Eric, who had already all but suffered a defeat once, grit his teeth and fought back.
Clang! Kagagang!
The speed of the sword held in both hands by the black-haired boy grew even faster.
Eric had no choice but to admit it.
The boy looked younger than him, but his skill was several levels above.
He responded by mobilizing everything he had learned so far, but he was gradually being pushed back.
Phaa-at.
As a blue Aura streaked through the air, Robin rolled to the side.
He had tried to knock Eric unconscious first, but Nelson did not just stand by and watch.
The moment he got back up, Eric lunged at him.
Eric’s swordsmanship was fierce, but not impossible to block.
The truly troublesome thing was the Aura.
Every time Robin seized the advantage, the Aura interfered with him.
‘At this rate, this will never end.’
If he pressed Eric, Nelson charged in, and if he evaded that, Eric’s attack began.
This process repeated several times, and wounds continued to pile up.
It would have been better if both Nelson and Eric were in front of him, but Nelson persistently appeared behind Robin.
“Robin, servant of the traitor Imelda Tefir, how about giving up here.”
“If I give up, will you spare my life.”
“I see why Sir Verman held your talent in such high regard. It would be a waste to die like this. I will spare you.”
“How can I trust those words.”
“I swear it on my honor as Nelson.”
Nelson tapped his own chest lightly.
Since he had staked a knight’s honor, it probably was not empty talk.
Robin straightened his waist and stabbed his sword into the ground.
As if loosening his stiff body, he stretched both arms wide.
“So you intend to surrender.”
“A knight is speaking to me like that, so I thought it would be impolite to pretend I didn’t hear.”
“A wise decision. Sir Eric, bind him.”
Eric approached, holding the binding rope used to tie criminals.
With a sword still in one hand.
Robin calmly waited for Eric to come closer and opened his mouth.
“Sir Verman said he would write me a recommendation to the Knight Academy. In the eyes of Sir Eric and Sir Nelson, do you think I could become a knight.”
“With your ability, more than enough.”
“Hearing you say that makes me feel good. I have one more question. Is Aura a technique that can only be used after becoming a knight.”
“Of course.”
Eric stopped before entering Robin’s range.
He spoke firmly.
“Sheathe the sword you stuck into the ground. Then we will bind you.”
‘As expected, he’s not easy.’
Robin slowly pulled out the sword embedded in the ground.
Eric remained on guard and did not step any closer.
“But if one is a knight, isn’t protecting one’s lord an honorable duty.”
“That is true, but.”
“If you have resolved yourself to protect them once, shouldn’t you see it through for it to be truly admirable.”
Robin’s previously slackened momentum abruptly changed.
The eyes watching Eric sharpened, and his leg muscles tightened.
“Sir Eric! Dodge!”
At the same time as Nelson’s shout, Robin swung his arm.
Eric quickly raised his sword without lowering his guard against Robin, but because he was holding the binding rope, his reaction was slightly delayed.
That slight opening was enough time for Robin to knock Eric unconscious.
Puh-eok!
Eric’s body collapsed after being struck in the temple, and a blue light flashed behind him.
Within the slowed flow of time, Robin thought.
‘With Eric here, he won’t be able to draw out his Aura for long.’
After finishing his judgment, Robin hoisted Eric onto his back.
Using a person as a shield felt distasteful, but there was no better method.
‘If it comes to it, I can take Eric hostage and escape.’
Just as he put strength into his legs to widen the distance from Nelson—
A chilling sensation made every hair on his body stand on end.
He hurriedly stepped to the side, but something cold and sharp stabbed into his flank.
Puuk.
“Keup!
“Damn, it missed. I was going to send you off peacefully, what a shame.”
“Keo-heok… Sir Nelson……?”
Eric, who had jolted awake from unconsciousness as if in a convulsion, stared at Nelson with eyes full of disbelief.
Eric’s body went limp, and hot blood spread across Robin’s back.
Fortunately, his vital spot had been missed, but a burning pain spread through his left side.
It felt like it had been stabbed quite deeply, as he could feel blood flowing out.
Thud.
When he tossed Eric aside, blood was gushing out from the center of his abdomen.
Blood stained the sword of Nelson, who wore a regretful expression atop his horse.
That blood told exactly what had happened.
Nelson’s Aura had pierced through both Eric and Robin at the same time.
Clutching his side, Robin glared at Nelson.
“Wasn’t he your comrade.”
“Rather than a comrade, he was closer to a subordinate.”
“You are strong enough that I cannot defeat you. Even so, did you have to go this far.”
“Ah, Sir Eric was about to be promoted soon. I wanted to deal with him before he became a knight, so this worked out well.”
“What…?”
“I had been bothered by him for a while.”
Robin could not understand Nelson’s words.
He staggered backward every time the man who had dismounted from his horse approached.
Nelson’s steps grew faster, while Robin’s became slower.
‘Hoo, get a grip. It’s just a wound like this. I can heal it by pouring a potion on it.’
“Still, it wasn’t a lie that I intended to take you back alive. I am a knight who follows his superior’s orders well.”
“Do you expect me to believe the words of someone who kills his own subordinate.”
“Your tone suddenly became disrespectful. Was it that shocking.”
“Yes.”
Nelson sneered and rushed straight toward Robin.
Aura surged before his eyes.
‘Don’t block it. I have to dodge no matter what.’
After evading the thrust, a horizontal slash came immediately after.
He retreated with a backstep, but as if that had been anticipated, the Aura shone brilliantly.
The blue Aura stretched out long and pierced Robin’s left shoulder.
Tanggeurang.
Robin dropped the sword in his left hand.
“Looks like you won’t be able to use your left arm anymore.”
Without even a moment to respond to Nelson’s words, the attacks continued.
The shoulder was only the beginning.
Elbow, collarbone, thigh, wrist…….
He was slashed and stabbed, blood streaming out in rivulets.
“You’ve gotten quieter? Were you always this taciturn.”
His head spun.
As blood leaked out, strength drained from his body and his vision blurred.
What am I even doing right now?
A laugh suddenly spilled from his mouth.
“When you’re about to die, do you start seeing hallucinations or something.”
Sgeok.
A finger was severed.
The pinky of his left hand.
Still, that was fortunate.
At least it wasn’t the thumb.
His strength would drop, but he could still grip a sword.
Sgeok.
The moment he thought that, his thumb was cut off.
Damn it…….
Isn’t Aura just completely unfair?
Everything it touched got severed—how was he supposed to fight that?
Just how did the Captain manage it?
Sgeogeok.
All the fingers of his left hand were severed.
Had the young lady managed to escape safely.
He could only pray that woman, Serena, was not an evil person.
“You’re a strange one. You know the outcome is already decided, so why resist this far.”
“Why?”
Yeah, why was he doing this.
He had a reason to live.
He had to keep the promise he made with Jeremy, who had saved him.
He wanted to become a knight at the pinnacle of the sword, yet here he was, about to be killed by a knight.
To begin with, knights did not seem to be the noble beings he had imagined.
If someone who stabbed his own subordinate to death was a knight, then a reckless mercenary band would be better.
Then was his dream meaningless.
-Protect me.
The reason he had become obsessed with growing stronger was because he had failed to protect a friend.
The despair he had felt when a younger child with golden eyes had thrown himself forward.
He never wanted to feel that again.
If only he had been a little stronger, a little wiser, Jeremy would still be alive.
His not-so-long life flashed by quickly.
The seed of the thought ‘Should I try becoming a knight?’ had also sprouted thanks to Jeremy.
At first, it was because he liked swords, but he did not want to lose anything more.
He wanted to protect.
A knight was someone who protected. To become such a person, he swung his sword even harder.
“You, why did you become a knight?”
“Wealth and honor follow. Do I need another reason.”
Puuk.
His right leg was stabbed deeply.
The driving force that had allowed him to avoid vital spots until now vanished.
Robin’s eyelids drooped.
“Any last words?”
Was this how he was going to die.
-We promised, Robin. We said we’d explore the uncharted regions together!
-Let’s go together someday. It’s a promise.
Sorry, Jeremy. The place you told me about, I don’t think I can go.
Still, I protected your friend.
If you think about it, she’s your sister. If you were alive, you probably would have gotten along well.
At least Imelda managed to escape. That’s good, right?
Was it a hallucination.
Jeremy flickered before his eyes.
With one hand on his waist, he opened his mouth with a dissatisfied expression.
As if that were such great luck.
His mind snapped awake.
Even if Imelda escaped from here now, the road ahead of her would be a path of thorns.
To hide from the Empire for her entire life?
She would never sleep peacefully for even a single day.
Every night, she would toss and turn, worrying that someone might come looking for her.
He forced strength into his heavily drooping eyelids and struggled to open his eyes.
The hallucination vanished, and only the knight trying to kill him filled his vision.
Swallowing the fishy, salty blood, he cast his gaze behind Nelson.
‘It’s not over yet.’
“I even gave you time to leave your last words, tsk.”
Nelson raised his sword high into the air.
Robin, barely standing, widened his eyes.
Over Nelson’s shoulder, he slowly opened his mouth as if he had seen something he should not have.
“V, Verman sir? How did you get here……?”
“What? Sir Verman?”
Nelson turned around.
There was nothing there. No—looking closely, there was a silhouette.
A woman with black hair draped over one shoulder.
Just as he was about to peer carefully, wondering if the darkness had made him see things, a cold blade brushed his neck.
Instinctively retreating backward, when he looked forward again, Robin was already in the midst of swinging his sword.
“You dodged that.”
“You bastard!”
The elongated Aura pierced through his chest.
Each time he tried to breathe, a sensation like drowning surged over him, as if he had gulped down water.
It was a fatal wound, yet Robin curled up the corners of his mouth.
‘I bought time.’
Deudeudeudeuk.
At the same moment Nelson swung his sword, the ground collapsed.
Precisely where Nelson had been standing, the earth caved in deeply without warning.
Before he could even put on a startled expression, Nelson fell beneath the ground.
The hole, so dark that its end could not be seen, was immediately filled back in.
Thud.
Robin collapsed just like that.
He no longer had the strength to move.
Blood was draining from his entire body, and if he stayed still, he would die.
And yet, though there were so many things he still wanted to do before ending his life like this.
His eyes kept closing.
Rustle, rustle.
Leaves were trampled, letting out cries of sound.
As if someone were moving busily, footsteps incessantly tickled his ears.
When he slowly opened his eyes, moonlight shone through the gaps between trees that blocked the sky.
“Cough, cough.”
“Robin! Are you conscious?”
“Young lady? Where is this place.”
“We went deeper into the forest. Don’t worry, the knights who were chasing us have gone back.”
Imelda spoke with a face on the verge of tears.
Her moist voice trembled faintly.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry. Because of me, you…….”
“Why would I be sorry. It was me who said I’d stay by your side, and it was also me who said I’d face the knights. I did it of my own will, so there’s no need to feel sorry.”
“But… your body…….”
“Oh, that? Luckily, I’m in better shape than I expected. My fingers are all attached properly too. Did you pour potions on me?”
“Yeah… I evenly applied the ones the knights were carrying.”
“Were they at least mid-grade potions. The effect is definitely good. It doesn’t seem like there’ll be any aftereffects either.”
Imelda looked over Robin’s body, unable to settle down.
He understood her concern, but there was something that needed to be done first.
Robin repeatedly clenched and unclenched his left hand, checking his physical condition.
It moved just as well as before, and it seemed like there wouldn’t even be any scars left.
‘Came back from the brink of death.’
When he tried to sit up to ask what had happened while he was unconscious, a sharp pain surged up along his spine.
There were still wounds all over his body that had yet to fully heal.
Enduring the pain, he tried to speak to Imelda, but for a moment, he lost his words.
Imelda’s body was covered in blood here and there.
On top of that, her reddened eyes were full of tear marks.
Noticing Robin’s gaze, Imelda spoke first.
“It’s not my blood.”
“Ah, that’s a relief…….”
“It’s yours.”
“That’s surprising. To think I lost this much blood and I’m still alive, haha.”
Imelda bit her lip as she looked at Robin.
After lifting her head to calm her brimming eyes, she took several deep breaths and then told him what had happened.
‘So it really was Serena who buried the knight.’
Just before his neck was cut by a sword wrapped in Aura, Serena had created a deep hole in solid ground and buried Nelson alive.
Perhaps because she had used too much strength, Serena collapsed immediately afterward, and Imelda dragged both Robin and Serena into the forest.
After treating Robin, she brought back the two horses Eric and Nelson had ridden, along with the fallen knight’s belongings.
“It’s good that only an hour has passed. Let’s depart right away.”
“Are you kidding? Look at your condition. You need to rest.”
“I know my own body well. You didn’t confirm that the knight was dead, did you? It’s better to hurry.”
Imelda tried several times to dissuade him with a worried voice, but she could not bend Robin’s will.
‘A knight wouldn’t die that easily.’
He didn’t know how deeply Nelson had been buried, but given enough time, there was a high chance he could escape.
Even if the apprentice knights had withdrawn, it would be troublesome if even one Aura-using knight pursued them.
‘Serena just looks like she’s sleeping.’
Even in Robin’s eyes, the technique used to bury Nelson alive was no ordinary feat.
He didn’t know the principles behind a spirit mage’s power, but since there didn’t seem to be any aftereffects, he felt relieved.
After distributing the luggage across the three horses, Robin seated Serena behind him.
She was moving quite dynamically, enough that she should have woken up, yet she slept soundly.
Imelda took hold of the reins of the two horses and started walking.
“When we arrive at Bellaruka, you’ll be able to rest properly, so just hang in there a bit longer.”
“Compared to how much Robin suffered, I didn’t do anything, so how could I complain.”
“You’ve grown a lot.”
“What did you just say?”
“Oh, nothing. I was just talking to myself.”
Walking down the pitch-dark path while soaked in blood, he didn’t feel that it was dangerous.
Perhaps it was because he had survived a battle against a knight.
Whether it was monsters or bandits, there was nothing to fear.
“By the way, Robin, aren’t you a bit too close to Serena?”
“Well, if she wakes up, she might feel uncomfortable. My clothes are soaked in blood too.”
“Exactly.”
“But what can we do. It’s better than her falling off the horse, right?”
“T-that may be so, but do you really need to wrap your arms around Serena like that? It looks like you’re hugging her from behind…….”
“It’s better to travel safely. This way, if she starts to fall, I can catch her.”
Imelda grumbled softly, but Robin couldn’t hear it.
He felt deeply grateful toward Serena.
Though he couldn’t be sure she was trustworthy and had remained wary of her, she had saved his life.
‘It’s scary to think about what she might demand when she wakes up.’
If Serena woke up, might she demand additional compensation.
Considering the boat fare needed to head north, he felt uneasy, knowing he needed to conserve expenses.
‘Well, that’s something to talk about only if we survive.’
Three horses and three people crossed through the moonlight.