The air flowing through the carriage window was cold, and a huge castle wall was visible ahead. A magic circle scattered behind the group's backs. Auston shivered and grunted.
“Oh, anyway, those pretentious bastards. How long are we going to keep using this outdated formula? It reduces efficiency.”
“If you didn’t like it, you should have done it yourself. If you had done that, you would have been able to return to the castle right away.”
“How can you say such scary things when all my magic power has already been absorbed in the morning? I don’t know if I receive additional allowance.”
Auston looked at Randall’s words with a straight face. Anyway, Randall clicked his tongue and crossed the castle gate, thinking, “That guy is serious about money.”
It took about an hour to drive leisurely from the castle walls to the Duchy of Belfort, located on a hill. After crossing the castle gate, a dense forest welcomed the group. Randall explained that if they crossed this forest for about 30 minutes, they would reach a village, and he looked at Sylvia from time to time.
“Sylvia, your complexion doesn’t look good. Are you okay?”
"I'm okay."
Sylvia answered with a grin, but her true intentions were different.
'How long has it been since I moved like this?'
She could bet that today's movements would be three times the movements of the past 22 years combined. Her weak body, which had been used only for her breathing exercises, was going on strike, and she was strongly insisting that she collapse on the bed and rest immediately.
“Sylvia, your complexion doesn’t look good. Are you okay?”
"I'm okay."
Sylvia answered with a grin, but her true intentions were different.
'How long has it been since I moved like this?'
She could bet that today's movements would be three times the movements of the past 22 years combined. Her weak body, which had been used only for her breathing exercises, was going on strike, and she was strongly insisting that she collapse on the bed and rest immediately.
However, Sylvia managed to sustain her body with her patience and mental strength accumulated throughout thr long years.
'Until early night... How can we hold on until the early hours of the night? After that, I'll just sleep for three days.'
Unfortunately, today's schedule wasn't over yet. In fact, the most important wedding ceremony, called the first night, remained. Her heart was so tired that she wanted to collapse and fall asleep right away. However, she decided to fool God by imitating the life of a 'normal couple' as much as possible, so the first night was a necessary procedure.
'Until early night... How can we hold on until the early hours of the night? After that, I'll just sleep for three days.'
Unfortunately, today's schedule wasn't over yet. In fact, the most important wedding ceremony, called the first night, remained. Her heart was so tired that she wanted to collapse and fall asleep right away. However, she decided to fool God by imitating the life of a 'normal couple' as much as possible, so the first night was a necessary procedure.
It was at a time when Sylvia was torn between extreme fatigue and responsibility.
“...!”
Randall and Sylvia's heads turned at the same time. Their eyes cooled as they looked across the forest.
“Fight everyone. Auston sets up a barrier around the forest. Knights, protect the carriage as a top priority.”
Only then did the faces of the knights stiffen as they sensed the unusual magical power coming from beyond the forest. Auston quickly put his hands forward and recited his mantra. Then a translucent barrier separated the forest from the village. The knights, including Randall, surrounded the carriage as if guarding it and held their swords.
“Auston. Make sure there’s no one else in the forest.”
“My honor.”
After giving that command, Randall then looked back at the window of the carriage with a stern expression.
“Do not open the window, and kill as much as possible.”
As soon as Sylvia nodded, the carriage window closed without a gap.
“...!”
Randall and Sylvia's heads turned at the same time. Their eyes cooled as they looked across the forest.
“Fight everyone. Auston sets up a barrier around the forest. Knights, protect the carriage as a top priority.”
Only then did the faces of the knights stiffen as they sensed the unusual magical power coming from beyond the forest. Auston quickly put his hands forward and recited his mantra. Then a translucent barrier separated the forest from the village. The knights, including Randall, surrounded the carriage as if guarding it and held their swords.
“Auston. Make sure there’s no one else in the forest.”
“My honor.”
After giving that command, Randall then looked back at the window of the carriage with a stern expression.
“Do not open the window, and kill as much as possible.”
As soon as Sylvia nodded, the carriage window closed without a gap.
Kieeeeek!
Immediately after, with a horrifying howl, scary-looking monsters came out of the forest and attacked the group.
“It’s ‘Pirabat’! The number appears to be around twenty!”
“Pfft, on days like this, don’t you think you should be a little more discreet? How can these guys not go a day without showing their faces!”
"Noisy! There’s one more guy going there!”
The knights each cursed and swung their swords frantically. The mouth was noisy, but the hands cutting the monster's neck and tendons were precise. The one that attacked the party was a low-level monster called ‘Pirabat’, a common sight in the Duchy of Belfort. Of course, that does not mean that their lethality or risk is low. With a body twice that of a human, fast movements, and jaws that could chew through stones, it could be considered a natural enemy of humans.
'But it's nothing compared to my lord.'
As the knights each dealt with the monsters, they glanced at Randall.
“It’s ‘Pirabat’! The number appears to be around twenty!”
“Pfft, on days like this, don’t you think you should be a little more discreet? How can these guys not go a day without showing their faces!”
"Noisy! There’s one more guy going there!”
The knights each cursed and swung their swords frantically. The mouth was noisy, but the hands cutting the monster's neck and tendons were precise. The one that attacked the party was a low-level monster called ‘Pirabat’, a common sight in the Duchy of Belfort. Of course, that does not mean that their lethality or risk is low. With a body twice that of a human, fast movements, and jaws that could chew through stones, it could be considered a natural enemy of humans.
'But it's nothing compared to my lord.'
As the knights each dealt with the monsters, they glanced at Randall.
Kiiik! KEEEK!
Randall was slaughtering monsters with one eye. The torn screams of monsters echoed around him. There is nothing superfluous about the movement of the sword. There is not even the slightest movement in the sword energy that forms around the blade. A sword that flies cleanly and accurately. In addition, the sword is so sharp that it can even cut through the sky. Due to such characteristics, it is strong enough to be unstoppable even if one knows the direction in which the sword is moving. It is truly a swordsmanship that can be said to be the pinnacle pursued by all knights.
Just seeing Randall's swordsmanship was of great help, so the knights took a glance at him whenever they had the chance while slowly taking out the monsters. Meanwhile, the urgent voice of Auston, who was searching inside the barrier with his eyes closed, shook the air.
“My lord! There are children nearby...!”
“...What?"
Amid the commotion, an eerie silence suddenly fell. But before they could react, the bushes near the carriage seemed to shake and small figures appeared.
“Look, I heard the sound from this side, so the village is also this way... Uh?"
The child who was confidently wading through the bushes at the front had a blank look on his face at the sight in front of them. The children who seemed to have gotten lost while playing in the forest were so small that they appeared to be about seven or eight years old. One of the monsters that sensed the presence turned its head and ran straight towards the children.
“Run away!”
Geoffrey, the knight closest to the children, shouted urgently and jumped in front of the monster. The monster's claw struck the blade as if it would break it.
“Aaaah!”
“You were wrong, My Lord!”
Thanks to Auston's tears and laments, he quickly returned to the castle, and Knight Jeffrey was safe. Of course, after waking up, he became a patient again as he had a sweet night with all the knights.
“My lord! There are children nearby...!”
“...What?"
Amid the commotion, an eerie silence suddenly fell. But before they could react, the bushes near the carriage seemed to shake and small figures appeared.
“Look, I heard the sound from this side, so the village is also this way... Uh?"
The child who was confidently wading through the bushes at the front had a blank look on his face at the sight in front of them. The children who seemed to have gotten lost while playing in the forest were so small that they appeared to be about seven or eight years old. One of the monsters that sensed the presence turned its head and ran straight towards the children.
“Run away!”
Geoffrey, the knight closest to the children, shouted urgently and jumped in front of the monster. The monster's claw struck the blade as if it would break it.
“Aaaah!”
“Uh, Mom!”
The children were one step behind, screaming and curling up. At thr unfamiliar scream, Sylvia slightly opened the window and looked outside through the crack. Her face hardened as she noticed the children's crouching figures, terrified.
"What are you doing! I told you to run away!”
Randall and the other knights were also busy dealing with the excited monsters. Jeffrey tried desperately to block the monster and scolded him again, but the children, who were already terrified, only trembled. It was a moment when Jeffrey was distracted by the children. The monster's feet flew in with a harsh sound, sending his body flying into the air.
“Wow!”
Kwaang-!
The children were one step behind, screaming and curling up. At thr unfamiliar scream, Sylvia slightly opened the window and looked outside through the crack. Her face hardened as she noticed the children's crouching figures, terrified.
"What are you doing! I told you to run away!”
Randall and the other knights were also busy dealing with the excited monsters. Jeffrey tried desperately to block the monster and scolded him again, but the children, who were already terrified, only trembled. It was a moment when Jeffrey was distracted by the children. The monster's feet flew in with a harsh sound, sending his body flying into the air.
“Wow!”
Kwaang-!
Jeffrey's body hit the carriage door with a loud sound. He was lucky to avoid being pierced by his claws but received a deep cut on his side. Additionally, the carriage door was shattered into pieces.
Randall sensed the commotion and reflexively turned his head. Through that action, the monster noticed that there was another human in a nearby carriage, and rushed towards the carriage, overtaking Jeffrey.
“Damn it, Sylvia!”
The carriage door was on the opposite side of where the party was fighting. It was the moment when Randall and his knights were running towards the carriage in awe.
“Damn it, Sylvia!”
The carriage door was on the opposite side of where the party was fighting. It was the moment when Randall and his knights were running towards the carriage in awe.
Hehehe!
The corpse of the monster that was lying in a mess on one side suddenly got up and rushed at its compatriot.
Kiik!
The monster rushing towards the carriage screamed in panic. However, the corpse of the monster with flashing bright red eyes did not even cry and bit its own kind with its whole body to block them. In the end, the monster targeting Sylvia died with its head torn off by the corpse of its own compatriot. Then, the tattered corpse of the monster also soon stopped moving and collapsed, like a doll with its strings cut. The red glow had suddenly disappeared from the eyes of the corpse that had stopped moving.
“...What just...”
Meanwhile, Jeffrey, who was watching the whole scene next to the messily broken door, muttered absently. Amid confusion and pain, he tried to raise his eyes, which were gradually becoming blurry and belatedly remembered Sylvia's existence.
“...What just...”
Meanwhile, Jeffrey, who was watching the whole scene next to the messily broken door, muttered absently. Amid confusion and pain, he tried to raise his eyes, which were gradually becoming blurry and belatedly remembered Sylvia's existence.
'Lady!'
His senses came back as if he had been doused with cold water. He desperately moved his head to look inside the carriage.
"Uh...?”
Inside a dark carriage. Sylvia was looking at the fallen corpse of the monster with a strangely detached expression. Just before Jeffrey noticed a flicker of red in the middle of her golden eyes.
"Shh."
His senses came back as if he had been doused with cold water. He desperately moved his head to look inside the carriage.
"Uh...?”
Inside a dark carriage. Sylvia was looking at the fallen corpse of the monster with a strangely detached expression. Just before Jeffrey noticed a flicker of red in the middle of her golden eyes.
"Shh."
Sylvia placed her right index finger in front of her lips and closed her eyes. After a wave of magical energy around her, he lost consciousness and fell to the floor.
“Sylvia!”
"Lady!"
At that time, Randall and the knights who had disposed of the remaining monsters hurriedly rushed to the carriage.
“Hwaaaaa!”
“It’s okay, guys. It’s okay now.”
Some of the knights rushed to the crying children curled up on one side. Randall, who jumped into the carriage as if flying, swallowed several curses in his mind and urgently looked at Sylvia.
“Sylvia!”
"Lady!"
At that time, Randall and the knights who had disposed of the remaining monsters hurriedly rushed to the carriage.
“Hwaaaaa!”
“It’s okay, guys. It’s okay now.”
Some of the knights rushed to the crying children curled up on one side. Randall, who jumped into the carriage as if flying, swallowed several curses in his mind and urgently looked at Sylvia.
"Are you okay? Where are you injured?”
"I'm OK. But that person...”
Sylvia looked towards the door of the carriage with eyes that had already lost all redness. There was Jeffrey, unconscious, sprawled on the floor, and knights shouting around him.
“Jeffrey, Jeffrey! Come to your senses!”
“It hurts badly! Master Auston, can you stop the bleeding!”
"I get it!"
Randall's expression hardened when he saw them. A familiar fear stiffened his body. He once again treated his colleagues and subordinates. The fear of losing those he gained with his own hands. At that time, Sylvia grabbed his stiff hand.
“Randall.”
“... Ah."
"It's okay."
Randall turned around as if fascinated by Sylvia, who was staring at him with a calm face in the dark carriage. Sylvia smiled slightly and spoke strongly as if to comfort him.
“He will live. Therefore..."
“...”
“Hurry back to the castle.”
A voice that seemed to comfort him deep inside his heart, which even he couldn't see into, gradually calmed his fears. Randall put pressure on her hand for a moment as if trying not to let go of the warmth in his hand, but then he got up, moaning as if he was in pain.
“Auston! Take charge of Jeffrey! Go back to the castle quickly!”
"All right!"
As he stepped out of the carriage with his back to Sylvia, the back of his head was slightly red.
"I'm OK. But that person...”
Sylvia looked towards the door of the carriage with eyes that had already lost all redness. There was Jeffrey, unconscious, sprawled on the floor, and knights shouting around him.
“Jeffrey, Jeffrey! Come to your senses!”
“It hurts badly! Master Auston, can you stop the bleeding!”
"I get it!"
Randall's expression hardened when he saw them. A familiar fear stiffened his body. He once again treated his colleagues and subordinates. The fear of losing those he gained with his own hands. At that time, Sylvia grabbed his stiff hand.
“Randall.”
“... Ah."
"It's okay."
Randall turned around as if fascinated by Sylvia, who was staring at him with a calm face in the dark carriage. Sylvia smiled slightly and spoke strongly as if to comfort him.
“He will live. Therefore..."
“...”
“Hurry back to the castle.”
A voice that seemed to comfort him deep inside his heart, which even he couldn't see into, gradually calmed his fears. Randall put pressure on her hand for a moment as if trying not to let go of the warmth in his hand, but then he got up, moaning as if he was in pain.
“Auston! Take charge of Jeffrey! Go back to the castle quickly!”
"All right!"
As he stepped out of the carriage with his back to Sylvia, the back of his head was slightly red.
***
“You were wrong, My Lord!”
Thanks to Auston's tears and laments, he quickly returned to the castle, and Knight Jeffrey was safe. Of course, after waking up, he became a patient again as he had a sweet night with all the knights.
“Haha! But since I’m still alive, I can get honey chestnuts and that’s it!”
"Ugh...”
“Anyway, My Lord, you are truly amazing. How can you crush a monster's skull with the handle of a sword? Are you born with that grip strength?”
"Ugh...”
Randell sighed as he looked at Jeffrey, who was busy praising him even after coming back from the dead and gave him a one-month pay cut and an order to self-reflect. Jeffrey humbly accepted it and apologized to Sylvia as well.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. I’ve been showing this ugly side from day one.”
"No. I’m glad you’re safe.”
Sylvia smiled brightly and looked at Jeffrey discreetly. But she didn't feel any other emotions from him, other than a little guilt and embarrassment.
'I'm glad.'
Sylvia sighed in relief when she confirmed that Jeffrey did not remember anything. It had been over 20 years since she last dealt with magic and darkness, so she was wondering if it would work, but fortunately, her skills didn't seem to have rusted.
'...Maybe I should have just died there.'
After the situation was resolved, a belated regret came over her. When the monster Pirabat opened its mouth and rushed into the carriage. For a moment, Sylvia thought, 'If I die like this, wouldn't it be an accidental death?' She thought.
"Ugh...”
“Anyway, My Lord, you are truly amazing. How can you crush a monster's skull with the handle of a sword? Are you born with that grip strength?”
"Ugh...”
Randell sighed as he looked at Jeffrey, who was busy praising him even after coming back from the dead and gave him a one-month pay cut and an order to self-reflect. Jeffrey humbly accepted it and apologized to Sylvia as well.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. I’ve been showing this ugly side from day one.”
"No. I’m glad you’re safe.”
Sylvia smiled brightly and looked at Jeffrey discreetly. But she didn't feel any other emotions from him, other than a little guilt and embarrassment.
'I'm glad.'
Sylvia sighed in relief when she confirmed that Jeffrey did not remember anything. It had been over 20 years since she last dealt with magic and darkness, so she was wondering if it would work, but fortunately, her skills didn't seem to have rusted.
'...Maybe I should have just died there.'
After the situation was resolved, a belated regret came over her. When the monster Pirabat opened its mouth and rushed into the carriage. For a moment, Sylvia thought, 'If I die like this, wouldn't it be an accidental death?' She thought.
It was an attack she didn't expect, so she actually took it for granted. But...
'...No matter what, I can't be torn to death by monsters in front of those kids.'
She sighed softly in regret. She did not want the children to see her die cruelly, even though she had lost most of her humanity.
- Sylvia!
Additionally, she couldn't deny that she was bothered by Randall's voice that called to her. For such an upright young man, wouldn't it be shocking to see his wife's corpse hacked to death by a monster's claws?
'...No matter what, I can't be torn to death by monsters in front of those kids.'
She sighed softly in regret. She did not want the children to see her die cruelly, even though she had lost most of her humanity.
- Sylvia!
Additionally, she couldn't deny that she was bothered by Randall's voice that called to her. For such an upright young man, wouldn't it be shocking to see his wife's corpse hacked to death by a monster's claws?
So Sylvia used her abilities to show consideration for the children and her soon-to-be widowed husband, Randall. There were two abilities she could use. One is human magic. And the other one...
The ‘darkness’ of the demon race can deal with all kinds of evil things, including death. She was Sylvia, and whenever she needed to use her powers in private, she favored magic. This was because the use of darkness reminded her of the times when she wandered through Celvetia in her first life, and her heart was not in a good mood.
However, at the time of thr attack, Auston was there, and he had the most outstanding qualities among the wizards seen since Alyssa's death. If Sylvia had used her magic circle to attack a monster, she would have been caught right away.
'And it makes no sense for someone who has never learned magic to use magic.'
After being born as ‘Sylvia’, Sylvia decided to do nothing. Of course, she took classes on basic knowledge and culture, but even that didn't last long. Since she was learning something she already knew, it would have been better to sleep more during that time.
'And it makes no sense for someone who has never learned magic to use magic.'
After being born as ‘Sylvia’, Sylvia decided to do nothing. Of course, she took classes on basic knowledge and culture, but even that didn't last long. Since she was learning something she already knew, it would have been better to sleep more during that time.
In a corner of her house, all the books that Count Florette had piled up for her daughter were piled up in dust, untouched. In addition, she knew well how much people found the existence of wizards annoying. It was obvious that if they found out that she was a wizard, her death would be even more difficult. So, Sylvia had no choice but to use darkness to deal with the monsters. After that, she used a little bit of magic that went undetected and knocked Jeffrey out before he could see the darkness in her eyes.
'What... There will be many opportunities in the future.'
It was a time when Sylvia was feeling a strange feeling of regret or something else. The knights gathered around Jeffrey's bed muttered something and suddenly stood up with serious faces.
“My Lord, Madam.”
"Hmm?"
“You shouldn’t be here like this. You have to go now!”
...Where are you going?
'What... There will be many opportunities in the future.'
It was a time when Sylvia was feeling a strange feeling of regret or something else. The knights gathered around Jeffrey's bed muttered something and suddenly stood up with serious faces.
“My Lord, Madam.”
"Hmm?"
“You shouldn’t be here like this. You have to go now!”
...Where are you going?
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