The whereabouts of the heart (9)
The man in the half-moon suit walked slowly into the stream. He was immersed in the water that was cold to the eye, up to his waist and buried his face in the water.
The man, who had been standing still as if dead, threw his head back. The water droplets that bounced off him scattered in all directions, creating rainbows.
"Ha..."
The man sighed softly and began to apply soap to his body.
Small bubbles formed on smooth skin that was neither cold nor goosebumps.
He washed his body thoroughly and poured water over himself. The dark blue body fluid of the monster that had clung to his body along with the foam was washed away cleanly.
Not only Ian but the entire Knights were covered in monster fluids.
However, most men only washed their faces with towels, and Ian was the only one who went into the stream in this weather.
Even Kalit ended up only cleaning the visible areas.
It was impossible to order someone to prepare bath water in makeshift barracks, and it wasn't unusual for someone like Ian to wash in a stream.
That's what a battlefield is. It was natural for it to be dirty, filthy, and reek.
In that place, Ian alone smelled like soap for three days straight.
Even now, with only a couple of hours left until they return, they've killed every last one of the fleeing monsters.
Kalit stood against the birch tree, arms folded. His eyes were dry, but there was a faint sneer on his lips.
Ian, who was coming out of the stream, glanced at Kalit. His expression didn't change as if he had already noticed his presence.
"Are you here?"
"Aren't you cold?"
"It's more bearable than being covered in the demon's bodily fluids."
Ian lifted his neatly folded clothes. A wrinkle-free, pure white shirt covered his upper body.
'Did you prepare the clothes in advance?'
Kalit's cynicism grew deeper.
"If you just hold out for a few hours, you can go back to the castle and take a warm bath. Why bother washing yourself in the stream in this weather?"
"I'm the type of person who can't stand dirty things."
"Is that so? I thought you were going to dress up before meeting someone who was waiting for you at the castle. I guess that wasn't the case."
Ian's hands, which were buttoning up his buttons, stopped for a moment.
The golden eyes that were staring up at Kalit were deeply sunken.
"...What do you want to say?"
"Millenia is very sensitive to body odor. She is especially sensitive to the smell of blood and monsters."
"I know."
Ian answered calmly and finished putting on his clothes.
The face was slanted downwards like a solid armor. The expression was unreadable.
Ian, wearing his coat, raised his head and looked straight at Kalit.
"For that reason, I don't understand why Your Highness would be uncomfortable even if I washed it. Wouldn't it be better than stinking?"
Ian, who had finished changing his clothes, walked towards Kalit. Kalit grabbed Ian's shoulder as he was about to
pass by while bowing.
"Ian, guard the street."
"..."
"I'm saying this because I don't want to lose you."
"The distance is..."
Ian took a deep breath.
Otherwise, he felt like he would just spit out the inexplicable emotions that were building up inside him.
"We are keeping a sufficient distance, so there is no need to warn us."
"..."
"If it's not because of me that you're anxious."
Ian politely pushed Kalit's hand away and bowed his head slightly.
His face was frighteningly cold as he turned his back on Kalit and started walking again.
When they returned to our temporary camp, Beorn was waiting for them in his tent.
Beorn tilted his head at Ian.
"Have you developed obsessive-compulsive disorder?"
Ian raised his eyebrows.
After Kalit, now Beornz this is the second time he's heard it today.
"Do you think it's unusual?"
"Well, compared to those guys, you're on the good side."
Outside the barracks, the knights were busy cleaning up.
Most of those who dismantled the barracks and moved the loot were in a mess.
The head was caked with the monster's fluids and a terrible smell emanated from the body.
It was different from Ian, who headed to the stream as soon as the battle ended.
I see.
A bitter smile appeared on Ian's lips.
Actually, he didn't think much of it when he was soaking in the stream.
He washed it because it was dirty. He was just following the flow of consciousness, but he realized it while talking to Kalit.
The fact that he was thinking about meeting Millenia.
Even Ian himself didn't know his true feelings, but thanks to Kalit, he came to know them.
'If I wanted to keep my distance, I shouldn't have even mentioned it.'
Suddenly, Ian remembered the image of Millenia he had seen the day before he left for the expedition.
"Try to smile."
A face that smiled as it touched his lips, a voice that was difficult to smile.
'You don't know what I was thinking back then.'
He wanted to hold her white face and plead.
Don't get engaged to Kalit.
He had to swallow the words that were rising to the top of his throat. The words, "Please don't do this," were a warning to himself, not to her.
Why on earth did that happen?
What did she mean to me?
Ian closed his eyes tightly to stop his thoughts.
He didn't want to know whether the true nature of his feelings toward Millenia was pity, respect, or something else. No, he shouldn't know.
Let's not look too deeply into Green's heart, or he might come face to face with the true nature of the emotions that have sunk into the abyss.
Ian slowly opened his eyes.
"Are you ready to depart?"
"We incinerated all of them except for about ten, including the leader."
The monster's corpse had to be burned to avoid contaminating the land if left alone.
"Their corpses will be placed on carts and placed at the front."
"What should I do with the weapon? It doesn't seem like it would be of much use other than as loot."
The monster's weapon was too heavy and unbalanced for a human to wield, Ian nodded.
"First, load it onto the carriage along with the monster's corpse. Once you arrive at the castle, send it to the blacksmith shop."
"Oh, I guess we can just melt it and use it. Yes."
"I hope there are no injuries."
Beorn's face became embarrassed for the first time. He licked his lips nervously and answered.
"Five people were injured."
When they arrived at the rift, the monsters were preparing for action.
In that state, the knights who had spread the anti-monster herbs attacked the monsters.
As Millenia had prophesied, the demons did not recognize the knights.
From the monster's perspective, it was like being attacked by an invisible enemy. It was natural for them to be helpless.
It was a truly one-sided massacre. Eventually, the monsters abandoned the cracks and fled in all directions.
This is why the battle was prolonged.
It took one more day than expected to chase down and eliminate the scattered guys one by one.
In any case, if there were only five casualties against nearly 200 monsters, it would be considered a great victory.
Still, Ian was not satisfied.
Although this battle was small, it was significant.
This is because it is the first battle in which humans attacked a monster first, and the first battle in 300 years in which the 'First Walker' intervened.
And didn't she even prepare herbs to fight against monsters?
A battle that should have ended in a complete victory was marred by a blemish. A chill ran through Ian's voice.
"Are you saying you've been hit five times by guys who don't even have proper awareness?"
"That's... Rather than being hit, it was just a slight graze from a weapon being swung around indiscriminately by a monster. It's not something to be concerned about."
"As soon as we return, gather all five of them in front of me."
"Yes..."
As Ian stepped out of the barracks, the knights who had been somewhat relaxed at the thought of returning froze.
Ian, who had been scanning them with sharp eyes, approached Kalit.
"Your Highness, please take the lead."
From the moment Kalit showed his intention to join the fight, Ian knew his role clearly.
It was to help the 1st Prince become the main character of this battle.
Kalit stared at Ian with blank eyes and smiled bitterly.
"...Is it so."
At the forefront of the knights' formation, in the most prominent position, a carriage carrying the corpse of a monster and its weapons was parked.
Kalit rode ahead.
Anyone can see that the main character of this battle was Kalit.
Finally, as Ian mounted his horse, Beorn gave a signal and shouted:
"Depart!"
300 knights started moving.
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